Ethics board dismisses complaint against Kanuha

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An ethics complaint against Hawaii County Council Chairman Dru Kanuha was dismissed Wednesday.

The county Board of Ethics voted 2-2 to take the matter to an informal hearing, resulting in the case being dropped.

Irie Hawaii Smoke Shops owner Mariner Revell filed the complaint over Kanuha receiving $536 in airfare from the Honolulu-based Coalition for a Tobacco-Free Hawaii.

The airfare occurred before Kanuha introduced a bill banning use of electronic cigarettes where conventional tobacco cigarettes are prohibited.

Revell, who alleged the flight was a violation of the county’s ethics code, said his issue was more with the lobbyist than Kanuha.

The councilman did not return a request for comment.