In a recent legal development, a grand jury indicted Hawaii’s lieutenant governor, Sylvia Luke, on charges of criminal conspiracy to commit bribery, bribery, and falsifying candidacy records. The indictment points to a 2022 incident involving a $35,000 bribe linked to a COVID‑19 testing contract.
Businessman and lobbyist Tobi Solidum is alleged to have offered the payment to Luke, a move tied to a contract his client, the National Kidney Foundation of Hawaii, held with the state. Solidum, who represented the foundation in its state contracts, also faced indictment in the same investigation.
In January 2022, as the foundation’s contracts approached expiration, Solidum met Luke at a steakhouse and allegedly presented two $5,000 checks to her campaign committee. The documents state that he promised a total of $70,000, citing a plan to “halfway” the amount by the following week.
Luke admitted to receiving the two checks but denied accepting more money or allowing it to influence her legislative actions. She also denied that any contribution resulted in special favors being granted.
The indictment alleges that Solidum sought to leverage Luke’s upcoming lieutenant governor campaign, suggesting that additional funds could secure influence. A statement attributed to Solidum indicates he believed further payments would be beneficial.
Other defendants named in the probe include former state representative Ryan Yamane, Transportation Department official Ford Fuchigami, and former public utilities commission official Leo Asunción. All were implicated in a broader investigation conducted by the state attorney general, which originated from a federal bribery inquiry.
Following the indictment, the governor called for Luke to consider resignation to facilitate the state’s progress and address the matter promptly. The call was made hours after the charges were announced, reflecting the seriousness of the allegations.
