Hawaii Audit Flags $13.7 Million in Questionable Spending on Governor's Kauhale Program
A 58-page state audit released October 7 found more than $13.7 million in "unauthorized, unsupported or questionable" payments under Gov. Josh Green's signature kauhale homeless initiative, the Honolulu Civil Beat and AP reported.
State Auditor Les Kondo's Report 26-11 examined the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions' administration of the program. The audit found the office was not prepared to run a statewide public-works effort and failed to provide oversight needed to protect public funds. Sampled payments to the nonprofit contractor HomeAid Hawaiʻi were categorized as unauthorized, unsupported or questionable — though the auditor noted this reflects oversight failures, not a finding that the full amount was lost.
The audit reviewed nine HomeAid development agreements (excluding a separate $3 million agreement with the aio Foundation). In some cases, work began before contracts were signed — in at least two cases, a 20-home project in Kalihi Valley and a now-closed medical respite unit, no contracts were signed at all. On two contracts — the Ka Malu Koʻolau Kauhale near Windward Community College and the Hoʻokahi Leo project in Kalihi — the state paid more than $1 million over approved budgets.
As of June, the state listed 26 kauhale projects statewide offering more than 900 units. Total listed contracts reached $79,990,473. HomeAid Hawaiʻi responded that the audit overlooked donated money, materials and labor from island builders that lowered project costs.
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 夏威夷州议会大厦（檀香山），图片来源：Wikimedia Commons（CC BY-SA 4.0）
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