BY JIM DOOLEY
Organizers of Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s inaugural ball raised $671,935 in private donations for the ball and other transition events, with the largest gifts coming from banks, law firms, unions, real estate developers and architectural/engineering firms, according to data released today by Abercrombie’s office.
The largest single donation, $30,000, came from Mitsunaga & Associates, a local architectural/engineering firm headed by Dennis Mitsunaga, an active political backer of Abercrombie and of former Gov. Ben Cayetano.
Cayetano gave $2,500.
“The Inauguration Gala of Governor Neil Abercrombie and Lt. Gov. Brian Schatz was designed to pay for all activities related to the transition period and inauguration, including the official ceremony, luau and neighbor island events,” said Abercrombie spokeswoman Donalyn Dela Cruz.
“Any proceeds remaining after expenses will be donated to the statewide Hawaiian Humane societies and Meals on Wheels as well as organizations to be determined,” said Dela Cruz.
After Mitsunaga, the next largest gift, $15,000, came from Kapolei Property Development LLC, the private real estate firm formed after the Campbell Estate landholding trust was dissolved.
The Office of Hawaiian Affairs, a state government agency, kicked in $10,000, as did private businessman Roald Marth, chief executive of Kuokoa, Inc. a business venture formed last year to attempt to purchase Hawaiian Electric Co.
Hawaiian Electric also donated $10,000 to Abercrombie’s inaugural.
Various labor unions gave amounts up to $10,000, including the Painters and Sheetmetal Workers unions and the University of Hawaii Professional Assembly, which represents UH faculty members.
Other significant donations included $10,700 from Alexander & Baldwin, Inc., the multi-national, Hawaii-based business conglomerate, and $10,000 from influential local law firm Alston Hunt Floyd & Ing. William Kaneko, a partner in the firm, headed Abercrombie’s transition team and is president of Hawaii Inaugural 2010, the non-profit corporation that received donations for the ball.
A complete list of the donors is here: Inaugural