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Lawmakers press HTA on unpaid invoices, late payments and procurement lapses
Summary
Committee members pressed HTA and DBEDT officials about months‑long delinquencies on payments to HVCB and CNHA (Kilohana), interest claims, procurement violations and staff discipline; HTA said overdue invoices have been reduced and that the attorney general’s office is advising on interest and legal issues.
Legislators used the joint briefing to press HTA officials and the Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism for a written accounting of overdue invoices, interest claims and procurement violations that surfaced in recent press coverage and in the state auditor’s reporting.
Multiple lawmakers cited delayed payments to the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau (HVCB) and to Kilohana/Community‑based Native Hawaiian Advancement (CNHA). HTA staff and DBEDT officials said HTA has worked to clear overdue invoices and that the agency has ‘‘come current’’ on previously outstanding payments. DBEDT said it and HTA were seeking a formal opinion from the attorney general on whether the state must pay statutory interest for late payments and, if so, how interest should be calculated and funded.
Senators repeatedly asked why invoices remained unpaid for hundreds of days and why program staff, procurement staff and board members did not more quickly escalate unresolved payment disputes. HTA staff replied that procurement and approval chains had caused delays, that prior staff turnovers contributed to the problem, and that new internal controls and weekly meetings have been put in place.
The briefing also covered three procurement‑violation findings that the State Procurement Office had flagged. HTA officials said one procurement matter involved acceptance of deliverables after a contract had expired and that the contract manager self‑reported the violation and completed required corrective action forms. Legislators requested documentation of corrective actions and of any discipline applied.
During the session the chairs ordered HTA to provide written follow‑up listing: (a) all contracts, current amounts and expiration dates; (b) invoices that were past due and how each was resolved; (c) the AG’s written opinion on interest, if any; and (d) documentation of procurement‑violation reports and resultant corrective actions. Committee chairs said they expect those materials in writing to avoid repeated hearings on the same unresolved items.
