Hawaii Audit Finds $13.7 Million in Questionable Public Spending

An audit found that Hawaii’s Office of Housing and Homeless Solutions incurred roughly $13.7 million in unauthorized or questionable expenses through a contract with the nonprofit HomeAid Hawaiʻi. The State Auditor detailed that the office lacked the necessary expertise to manage the multimillion-dollar public works project. This resulted in payments for housing units that were not built and over $1 million used to fund HomeAid’s own business operating costs.

The findings indicate significant financial mismanagement within a state housing initiative. The audit suggests the office failed to properly oversee contracts, relying instead on the contractor to control costs. This scrutiny relates to broader concerns regarding the use of public funds in Hawaii.

Turkey and Hawaii are facing scrutiny regarding the use of public funds.