Ex-Hawaii official sentenced to 46 months for embezzlement

HONOLULU — A former Hawaii public official was sentenced to 46 months in prison for embezzling more than $38,000 from AmeriCops and offering a bribe in return coronavirus relief funds grants.

Stacy Higa, a former Hawaii County Council member, spent the money on personal expenses, including $20,000 in “elective aesthetic dental care,” U.S. prosecutors said.

From 2018 through his resignation in 2020 as executive director of the Hawaii Commission for National and Community Service, he embezzled money from AmeriCorps, a program for volunteers who receive stipends to work in vulnerable and marginalized communities, prosecutors said.

Higa, who is also former CEO of Na Leo TV on the Big Island, pleaded guilty in October to embezzlement and offering a bribe.

As part of his sentence announced Tuesday, Higa is required to pay more than $38,000 in restitution and perform 200 hours of community service.

Prosecutors said Higa offered financial benefits to Hanalei Aipoalani, who administered the pandemic relief funds for Honolulu.

Aipoalani, who previously pleaded guilty to embezzling from AmeriCorps and agreeing to accept a bribe under the CARES Act, was sentenced last year to 46 months in prison.

The U.S. government provided pandemic relief money to states and counties under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, known as CARES.