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Honolulu Civil Beat, Hawaii
July 12 2013
Azerbaijani Aloha Sends Hawaii Lawmakers Across Planet on Pricey Trip
By Nathan Eagle
Gift disclosure statements filed last month by two state lawmakers
revealed an unexpected and intriguing donor from half a world away:
The Republic of Azerbaijan.
The thriving oil-fueled nation just north of Iran flew Reps. Rida
Cabanilla and Mark Takai halfway across the world for the
U.S.-Azerbaijan Convention in May.
Yes, from the tide pools of Hawaii to the oil baths of Azerbaijan.
Cabanilla and Takai joined more than 300 other people from the U.S.,
including members of Congress, former governors and political leaders
representing almost every state. There were speeches, a ballet, fancy
dinners and a gala.
Azerbaijan spent a total of nearly $8,000 on airfare, food, lodging
and more for Cabanilla and Takai for a visit that lasted just a few
days - the most expensive gift reported by any member of the
Legislature in the past year.
Other legislators' disclosure statements showed foreign trips as well,
but less pricey ones. For instance, Sen. J. Kalani English went to
Spain thanks to the Club de Madrid, a trip valued at $1,700. And
Senate President Donna Mercado Kim went on a $3,000 trip to attend a
summit in China that was paid for by the Hawaii Tourism Authority.
Hawaii lawmakers are required to report any gift that they receive
worth more than $200, or that might result in a fine from the state
Ethics Commission.
Cabanilla and Takai said they aren't particularly concerned about
accepting such an expensive trip because it doesn't violate their own
personal ethics or state standards. They both said that they measure
the appropriateness of accepting such junkets by weighing how the
underlying donation might influence them.
`There's nothing in the Legislature now that would directly benefit
Azerbaijan,' Takai said, `so it passes the ethics concern.'
Cabanilla said that the most Azerbaijan could get from Hawaii is a resolution.
The convention in Azerbaijan was sponsored by the state oil company in
collaboration with BP, Chevron and ConocoPhillips, among others.
Takai, who heads the House International Affairs Committee, told Civil
Beat on Wednesday that he flew to the small nation that borders
Russia, Armenia, Iran and the nation of Georgia in part to gain a
better understanding of where foreign fossil fuels come from since
Hawaii is talking about weaning itself off imported oil. Azerbaijan
borders the Caspian Sea, which has one of the world's largest known
oil and gas fields.
But Takai said that the trip was about more than oil. He also went to
promote Hawaii and explore opportunities for tourism and education, he
said, explaining that, `It's important for us to build bridges
throughout the world if we're going to continue to prosper."
Cabanilla, the former chair of the House International Affairs
Committee, said the invitation came as part of a lobbying effort by
Azerbaijan to improve its alliance with the U.S.
She said she went to try to bring business to Hawaii, be it through
tourism, education or medicine.
Takai described Azerbaijan as a fascinating culture, very rich and tropical.
`It's kind of like Hawaii, but along the Caspian Sea,' he said.
`Azerbaijan is not quite understood by many in the U.S. and the
country, through this conference, wanted to step up their efforts to
educate elected officials and policymakers.'
Takai said he expects the conference to be an annual event, and for
leaders of Azerbaijan to come visit Hawaii too.
Honolulu has a sister-city relationship with Baku, the Azeri capital
where the convention was held. Takai said that he and Cabanilla
represented the county since Mayor Kirk Caldwell was unable to go.
http://www.civilbeat.com/articles/2013/07/12/19489-azerbaijani-aloha-sends-hawaii-lawmakers-across-planet-on-pricey-trip/
July 12 2013
Azerbaijani Aloha Sends Hawaii Lawmakers Across Planet on Pricey Trip
By Nathan Eagle
Gift disclosure statements filed last month by two state lawmakers
revealed an unexpected and intriguing donor from half a world away:
The Republic of Azerbaijan.
The thriving oil-fueled nation just north of Iran flew Reps. Rida
Cabanilla and Mark Takai halfway across the world for the
U.S.-Azerbaijan Convention in May.
Yes, from the tide pools of Hawaii to the oil baths of Azerbaijan.
Cabanilla and Takai joined more than 300 other people from the U.S.,
including members of Congress, former governors and political leaders
representing almost every state. There were speeches, a ballet, fancy
dinners and a gala.
Azerbaijan spent a total of nearly $8,000 on airfare, food, lodging
and more for Cabanilla and Takai for a visit that lasted just a few
days - the most expensive gift reported by any member of the
Legislature in the past year.
Other legislators' disclosure statements showed foreign trips as well,
but less pricey ones. For instance, Sen. J. Kalani English went to
Spain thanks to the Club de Madrid, a trip valued at $1,700. And
Senate President Donna Mercado Kim went on a $3,000 trip to attend a
summit in China that was paid for by the Hawaii Tourism Authority.
Hawaii lawmakers are required to report any gift that they receive
worth more than $200, or that might result in a fine from the state
Ethics Commission.
Cabanilla and Takai said they aren't particularly concerned about
accepting such an expensive trip because it doesn't violate their own
personal ethics or state standards. They both said that they measure
the appropriateness of accepting such junkets by weighing how the
underlying donation might influence them.
`There's nothing in the Legislature now that would directly benefit
Azerbaijan,' Takai said, `so it passes the ethics concern.'
Cabanilla said that the most Azerbaijan could get from Hawaii is a resolution.
The convention in Azerbaijan was sponsored by the state oil company in
collaboration with BP, Chevron and ConocoPhillips, among others.
Takai, who heads the House International Affairs Committee, told Civil
Beat on Wednesday that he flew to the small nation that borders
Russia, Armenia, Iran and the nation of Georgia in part to gain a
better understanding of where foreign fossil fuels come from since
Hawaii is talking about weaning itself off imported oil. Azerbaijan
borders the Caspian Sea, which has one of the world's largest known
oil and gas fields.
But Takai said that the trip was about more than oil. He also went to
promote Hawaii and explore opportunities for tourism and education, he
said, explaining that, `It's important for us to build bridges
throughout the world if we're going to continue to prosper."
Cabanilla, the former chair of the House International Affairs
Committee, said the invitation came as part of a lobbying effort by
Azerbaijan to improve its alliance with the U.S.
She said she went to try to bring business to Hawaii, be it through
tourism, education or medicine.
Takai described Azerbaijan as a fascinating culture, very rich and tropical.
`It's kind of like Hawaii, but along the Caspian Sea,' he said.
`Azerbaijan is not quite understood by many in the U.S. and the
country, through this conference, wanted to step up their efforts to
educate elected officials and policymakers.'
Takai said he expects the conference to be an annual event, and for
leaders of Azerbaijan to come visit Hawaii too.
Honolulu has a sister-city relationship with Baku, the Azeri capital
where the convention was held. Takai said that he and Cabanilla
represented the county since Mayor Kirk Caldwell was unable to go.
http://www.civilbeat.com/articles/2013/07/12/19489-azerbaijani-aloha-sends-hawaii-lawmakers-across-planet-on-pricey-trip/