This one involved two complimentary tickets from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to a Legislative Luau Luncheon, which was scheduled Friday (March 30).

The luncheon was part of a “Hawaiian Caucus Day Event” and was an opportunity for legislators to meet and discuss issues with OHA trustees and staff. 

In a March 28 memo to all legislators, the Hawaii State Ethics Commission said legislators could accept one of the tickets (valued at $17) but not both:

As you know, the State Ethics Code prohibits state officials and employees from accepting any gift, including meals, if it is reasonable to infer that the gift is intended to influence or reward official action. The State Ethics Commission, generally, has determined that food and beverages offered to a state official, including a legislator, costing or valued at under $25 is insufficient to raise a reasonable inference that the gift is intended to influence or reward official action.