This document provides a guide to mapping the influence of money in politics in Hawaii. It outlines several key data sources where campaign finance information can be found, including websites for state and local candidate donations and spending. It then discusses how to analyze and interpret the data, such as looking at top donors and industries, as well as potential hidden influences like bundled donations and coordinated spending between lobbyists and their clients. The goal is to follow the money and its influence in politics.

1. Following the Money
a DIY guide to mapping the influence of money in politics
Presented by:
Common Cause Hawaii
League of Women Voters of Hawaii
Kanu Hawaii

2. Part I Data sources on money and politics
a tour of key websites where you can get data

3. www.hawaii.gov/campaign
data on State and County candidate and PAC donations and spending
Click here for
disclosure
reports by
Candidates,
Noncandidate
Committees
(PACs),
Corporations

4. www.hawaii.gov/campaign
Click
here for
recent
reports

5. www.hawaii.gov/campaign
Find “Standard Reports” here. You can also go to “Special Report” to
see the data sorted in different ways.

6. www.hawaii.gov/campaign
Click on a candidate to see
their reports. This website has
data for state and city/county
candidates.

7. www.hawaii.gov/campaign
“Disclosure” shows the
total amounts during
that reporting period.
“Schedule A” shows
detailed donations
received during that
reporting period.
You can export the
data to a spreadsheet.

8. www.hawaii.gov/campaign
Sample “Schedule A” report
for Honolulu City Council
candidates, July 1- Dec 31,
2011
Note: you would need to
combine this Schedule A
with others from the period
leading up to an election to
get a complete picture of
campaign donors.

9. www.followthemoney.org
analyzes donors for State-level candidates (House, Senate, Gov, LG)
Explore – State
Overviews
Find info for your elected
officials
L-CAT shows donations
to committee members

10. www.followthemoney.org
click “explore”  “state overviews”  “Hawaii”

11. www.followthemoney.org
analysis of top donors for specific candidates
click on any candidate for
a detailed report…

12. Sample candidate report
View all contributors,
selected contributors,
and download
contribution data for
this candidate.

13. www.opensecrets.org
donor and spending analysis for federal candidates and PACs
Look up members of
Congress

14. www.politicalpartytime.org
tracks fundraisers for members of Congress
Look up a Congressional
candidate

15. www.votesmart.org
info on candidate positions, public statements, endorsements

16. Sample candidate report
“Political Courage Test “is a
VoteSmar questionnaire asking
about positions on issues. Not all
candidates provide answers.

17. www.votesmart.org
“Political Courage Test” asks candidates for positions on issues

18. www.votesmart.org
not all candidates respond to the “Political Courage Test” questions

19. www.opencongress.org
voting records, floor speeches, and bills by members of Congress

20. Part II Using and interpreting the data
DIY investigation of money and influence

21. step 1. get the raw data

22. Name Address Aggregate
Hawaii Association of Realtors 1136 12th Avenue, Suite 220 $2,000.00
Monsanto Company 2111 Piilani Highway $2,000.00
Operating Engineers Local No. 3 1620 South Loop Road $2,000.00 EXAMPLE
Morris, G A. 45-302 Puuloko Place $1,500.00
Outrigger Enterprises, Inc 2375 Kuhio Avenue $1,300.00
Kobayashi, Bert A. 1288 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 201 $1,200.00 Data download from
Radcliffe, John H. 1010 Wilder Avenue, #703 $1,000.00 followthemoney.org
Ironworkers for Better Government 94-497 Ukee Street $1,000.00
McCrory, Lynn P. 5140 Hanalei Plantation Road $1,000.00
G & G Entertainment Inc. 94-115 Aiea Heights Drive, Suite 310 $1,000.00 Sharon Har
RAI Services Company P.O. Box 464 $1,000.00 2010 election donors
Du Pont P.O. Box 80040 $850.00
Kobayashi, Bert A. 1288 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 201 $700.00
United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners #745
1311 Houghtailing Street $650.00 State House of
Perlak, Frederick J. 92-1346 Hunekai Street $600.00 Representatives
Hawaii Medical Service Association Employee PAC
P.O. Box 860 $550.00
First Hawaiian Bank P.O. Box 1959 $550.00
IFAPAC Hawaii No. 1 516 Kawaihae Street, Suite E $500.00 Vice Chair
Fritz, Collin M. 829 Onaha Street $500.00 Water Land Ocean
Pakkala, Alana K. 1288 Ala Moana Boulevard, Suite 201 $500.00
Tanigawa, Wayne T. 1610 Kanunu Street, Apt. 1502 $500.00
Resources
Ocean Tourism Coalition PAC 820 Mililani Street, Suite 810 $500.00
Kobayashi, Ronald H. 2206 McKinley Street $500.00
Kobayashi, Bert A. Jr. 1910 Aleo Place $500.00
Radcliffe, John H. 1010 Wilder Avenue, #703 $500.00
Build-Pac Hawaii 1727 Dillingham Blvd. $500.00
Friends for Say 1984 10th Avenue $500.00
Arce, Jeff 1062 Iiwi Street $500.00
Duncan MacNaughton, Trustee 1288 Ala Moana Boulevard, Suite 208 $500.00
Inouye, Kathryn W. 1288 Ala Moana B oulevard, #12A $500.00

23. EXAMPLE
Data download from
followthemoney.org
Hawaii Realtors Association, House Contributions 2010

24. EXAMPLE
Data download from
followthemoney.org
HSTA, House Contributions 2010

25. step 2. see who’s most influential

26. Campaign Contributions by Industry, 2010

27. Top 20 Lobbying Expenditures, 2011 Session Biggest Spenders:
Altria Client Services Inc. $ 196,605
Lobbying
American Beverage Association $ 171,368
Hawaii Association for Justice $ 151,891
Kamehameha Schools $ 109,371
Hawaii State Teachers Association $ 97,403
Hawaii Tourism Authority $ 95,000
InformedRx, Inc. $ 82,000
Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. $ 75,888 Who are these guys?
Wellcare Health Insurance of AZ $ 72,471
University of Hawaii Foundation $ 72,324
UH Professional Assembly $ 68,945
Board of Water Supply, C&C Hon $ 67,000
Outrigger Enterprises Group $ 65,547
Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii $ 64,284
AFLAC $ 62,827
Hawaii Medical Service Assn $ 59,546
Blue Planet Foundation $ 56,262
Hawaii Medical Association $ 53,636
Hawaii Government Employees Assn $ 51,997
Western States Petroleum Assn $ 51,573

28. Top 20 Lobbying Expenditures, 2011 Session Tobacco industry fighting tobacco
taxes and regulation
Altria Client Services Inc. $ 196,605
American Beverage Association $ 171,368 Soda companies fighting soda tax
to fund early childhood education
Hawaii Association for Justice $ 151,891
and child health programs
Kamehameha Schools $ 109,371
Hawaii State Teachers Association $ 97,403
Hawaii Tourism Authority $ 95,000 Public sector labor unions
InformedRx, Inc. $ 82,000
Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. $ 75,888
Wellcare Health Insurance of AZ $ 72,471 Visitor industry, hotels, timeshare
University of Hawaii Foundation $ 72,324
UH Professional Assembly $ 68,945
Board of Water Supply, C&C Hon $ 67,000 Energy interests
Outrigger Enterprises Group $ 65,547
Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii $ 64,284
AFLAC $ 62,827 Health insurance industry
Hawaii Medical Service Assn $ 59,546
Blue Planet Foundation $ 56,262
Hawaii Medical Association $ 53,636
Hawaii Government Employees Assn $ 51,997
Western States Petroleum Assn $ 51,573

29. Top 20 Campaign Donors, 2010 Election Biggest Spenders:
Hawaii Association of Realtors $143,000
Campaign Donors
Hawaii State Teachers Association $110,570
Alexander & Baldwin $82,250
Ironworkers Local 625 $76,450
A-1-A Lectrician $62,750
Operating Engineers Local 3 $56,250
Hawaii Carpenters & Joiners $54,150
Electrical Workers Local 1186 $51,900 Who are these guys?
Longshore and Warehouse Local 142 $51,762
Hawaii Management Alliance Assn $51,150
Hawaii Government Employees Assn $50,404
Schatz, Irwin $50,000
Painters Local 1791 $48,300
Hawaii Medical Service Association $47,700
Morris, George A (Red) $44,241
Radcliffe, John H $43,591
Plumbers & Pipefitters PAC $43,500
Carpenters & Joiners Local 745 $40,830
Altria $40,750
Island Insurance Co. $40,450

30. Top 20 Campaign Donors, 2010 Election
Hawaii Association of Realtors $143,000 Real estate developers and sales
Hawaii State Teachers Association $110,570
Alexander & Baldwin $82,250
Ironworkers Local 625 $76,450 Construction industry and unions
A-1-A Lectrician $62,750
Operating Engineers Local 3 $56,250
Hawaii Carpenters & Joiners $54,150 Public sector labor unions
Electrical Workers Local 1186 $51,900
Longshore and Warehouse Local 142 $51,762
Hawaii Management Alliance Assn $51,150
Hawaii Government Employees Assn $50,404
Schatz, Irwin $50,000
Painters Local 1791 $48,300 Health insurance
Hawaii Medical Service Association $47,700
Morris, George A (Red) $44,241 Lobbyists
Radcliffe, John H $43,591
Plumbers & Pipefitters PAC $43,500
Carpenters & Joiners Local 745 $40,830 Tobacco industry
Altria $40,750
Island Insurance Co. $40,450

31. Biggest Spenders: Lobbying & Campaign Donations
• Public sector unions
• Real estate developers and sales
• Construction industry and unions
• Visitor industry, hotels, timeshares
• Health insurance industry
• Energy industry and advocates
• Tobacco industry
• Soda industry

32. step 3. look for hidden influence

33. There are legal limits on campaign contributions
• $2,000 for House candidates
• $4,000 for Senate/County candidates
• $6,000 for Statewide seats
• Reporting required for lobbyists, donors
These limits exist to ensure that money doesn’t buy
(nor appear to buy) influence, i.e., no single donor can
claim they provided a large share of funding for a
candidate’s campaign.

34. “Bundled” Contributions
ROMY CACHOLA, 2008 CITY COUNCIL ELECTION
Name Address Employer Aggregate
Joseph Paikai, Realtors PAC of Hawaii 1136 12th Avenue, #220 Realtors PAC of Hawaii $3,500
Henderson, Mason PO Box 3045 Hawaii Alcoholism Foundation $3,000
Paris, George 94-497 Ukee St. Ironworkers Union $2,500
Hederson, Mason P.O. Box 3045 Sand Island Treatment Center $2,000
Tajiri, Brian 2120 Laukahi Street Tajiri Demolition & Disposal LLC $2,000
Walter Arakaki Trust P. O. Box 17790 Private Trust $2,000
Rolloffs Hawaii P. O. Box 30046 Rolloffs Hawaii $2,000
Sonny's Service & Repair 1119 Makepono Street Sonny's Service & Repair $2,000
Operating Engineers Stabilization Fund 1640 S. Loop Rd HI Operating Engineers Fund $2,000
Castanares, Reginald 1109 Bethel Street Plumbers & Pipefitters PAC $2,000
Realtors
Is this a diverse set of top Building trades
Waste Management
donors with varied interests? Auto mechanic shop
Private trust
Substance abuse treatment

35. “Bundled” Contributions
ROMY CACHOLA, 2008 CITY COUNCIL ELECTION
Name Address Employer Aggregate
Joseph Paikai, Realtors PAC of Hawaii 1136 12th Avenue, #220 Realtors PAC of Hawaii $3,500
Henderson, Mason PO Box 3045 Hawaii Alcoholism Foundation $3,000
Paris, George 94-497 Ukee St. Ironworkers Union $2,500
Hederson, Mason P.O. Box 3045 Sand Island Treatment Center $2,000
Tajiri, Brian 2120 Laukahi Street Tajiri Demolition & Disposal LLC $2,000
Walter Arakaki Trust P. O. Box 17790 Private Trust $2,000
Rolloffs Hawaii P. O. Box 30046 Rolloffs Hawaii $2,000
Sonny's Service & Repair 1119 Makepono Street Sonny's Service & Repair $2,000
Operating Engineers Stabilization Fund 1640 S. Loop Rd HI Operating Engineers Fund $2,000
Castanares, Reginald 1109 Bethel Street Plumbers & Pipefitters PAC $2,000
Members, Sand Island Business Association
Clyde Kaneshiro, Former Pres & Director of SIBA
Walter Arakaki, Glenn Nohara, SIBA Directors
Or top donors supporting
a single interest obscured Tropic Land LLC
Clyde Kaneshiro, Owner
from public view? Developer of “Purple Spot” in Lualualei
Councilmember Cachola votes to rezone the
“purple spot” in Lualualei for development.

36. Lobbyists and their Clients Donating Together
A lobbying firm donates as a company = $2,000
its 2 partners donate $2,000 each = $4,000
Its client “Company X” donates $2,000 = $2,000
Company X’s 4 execs give $2000 each = $8,000
(at the suggestion of their lobbyists)
_________
Company X and their lobbyists = $16,000
Average cost of House campaign = $40,000
% by Company X and their lobbyists = 40%

37. Lobbyists and their Clients Donating Together
Hawaii Capitol Consultants: Morris & Radcliffe Partners
Client List
• AIG Companies • Hawaii School Bus Association
• Alliance of Residential Care Administrators • Hawaii State Towing Association
• ALTRES, Inc. • iteachU.S., Ltd.
• Altria Client Services Inc. and its Affiliates • Lilly USA, LLC
• American Chemistry Council • McCorriston, Miller Mukai MacKinnon, LLP
• AFLAC • MillerCoors LLC
• Appriss, Inc. • Monsanto Company
• AT&T • Newport Hospital Corporation
• Boyd Gaming Corporation • Schnitzer Steel, Industries, Inc.
• Corrections Corporation of America • Securities Industry & Financial Markets Assn
• Coventry • Voice for Learning
• Dollar Financial Group, Inc. • Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
• Entertainment Software Association • Waterhouse, Inc.
• Grocery Manufacturers Association
• Hawaii Court Reporters & Captioners Assn
• Hawaii Hotel & Lodging Association
• Hawaii Liquor Wholesalers Association
• Hawaii Management Alliance Association

42. Part III Back to the big picture
appropriate v inappropriate influence and what
we can do about it

43. Is the influence of money “appropriate”?
is it “proportional” to interests in the population?
does it “add up” to the public interest in the end?

44. Campaign Contributions by Industry, 2010

45. Influence is concentrated….
• public employee unions
• real estate developers and salespeople
• construction and building trades
• tobacco industry
• health insurance and pharma

46. Is influence appropriate (proportionate)?
Influential…
• Government Employees (20,000)
• Carpenters Union (5,000 carpenters)
• Operating Engineers Union (1,560 equip oper)
• Realtors Association (850 real estate agents)
Not influential…
• Retail Salespersons (23,000)
• Waiters, Waitresses (16,000 )
• Office Clerks (14,000)
• Security Guards (9,000)
Influential…
• Teachers (8,000)
Not influential…
• Public school students (182,000)

47. What things do you care about that are not
represented by influential donors and lobbyists?
• environment, e.g., plastic bags, development?
• taxpayers, e.g., public pension reform ?
• children, e.g., affordable quality preschool?
• preventive health, e.g., smoke, diet-related disease?
• planning ahead for higher import prices (oil, food)
• planning ahead for new industries
• planning ahead for anything…
The future is always at a disadvantage to the present,
because existing industries and unions have amassed
resources for lobbying and contributions. Future industries,
organizations, and causes - however good they might be for
Hawaii - have not.

48. • Re-election is still the most important thing
to our elected leaders. Money, lobbying, and
relationships influence leaders only because
not enough of us vote with knowledge of the
candidates, their positions, and issues.

49. The antidote: People power across the map
1) Map the influence clearly and share it widely
2) Array people power according to the map
3) Strengthen rules that limit influence of money