A Honolulu nonprofit is calling on the governor to make his travel records public without charging a ton of money.

In a news release Tuesday, the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii asked Gov. Neil Abercrombie to demonstrate greater transparency.

“It’s unfortunate to see a journalistic news website face bureaucratic foot-dragging in response to a very reasonable request regarding the Governor’s use of state funds,” said Tim Lussier, executive director of Grassroot Institute. “Not only is it antithetical to the spirit of Hawaii’s Uniform Information Practices Act, but it is an affront to the citizens of this state, who deserve to know how their tax dollars are being spent.”

Mr. Lussier referred to a recent article in Honolulu Civil Beat, detailing that publication’s efforts to obtain a full account of Governor Abercrombie’s travel records and expenses for the entirety of his term in office. Even after an appeal to the state Office of Information Practices, Civil Beat is unable to obtain these records without paying the state $1,016 in estimated charges to compile the requested information. 

Lussier said if the governor’s office doesn’t release the information, then Grassroot Institute will do what it takes to help raise the funds for it and “shower some much-needed sunshine over our state’s executive branch.”

Read Civil Beat‘s series on the cost of Hawaii’s public records here.

— Nathan Eagle