Stacy Higa, the ex-chief of Hawaii’s AmeriCorps program, is headed to federal prison for 46 months. The feds caught him siphoning over $38,000 from AmeriCorps funds – money meant for community programs – and then trying to grease the wheels for nearly $850,000 in CARES Act grants with a cold, hard bribe. This wasn’t about oversight failures; it was a blatant abuse of power for personal enrichment.
Higa, a former Hawaii County councilman who even ran for mayor, used his position at the Hawaii Commission for National and Community Service to funnel money to companies he secretly controlled. From February 2018 until his forced resignation in May 2020, he authorized contracts and purchase orders, then pocketed the cash. The spending? Included elective dental work – a clear indication this wasn’t a mistake, but calculated self-dealing.
The CARES Act, passed at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, was supposed to be a lifeline for struggling communities. Higa saw it as an opportunity. In August 2020, he approached Hanalei Aipoalani, the CARES Program Administrator for Honolulu, with a payoff in exchange for approval of two grant applications totaling $845,000. He wasn’t subtle. Higa directed an employee to create bogus invoices and even discussed laundering the money through shell companies and their spouses, anticipating a personal profit of at least $250,000.
Federal prosecutors detailed how Higa attempted to cover his tracks, but the scheme quickly unraveled. Aipoalani, thankfully, didn’t play along and reported the attempted bribery. The investigation revealed a pattern of dishonesty and a callous disregard for the AmeriCorps program’s mission. Higa pleaded guilty in October 2021 to both embezzlement and bribery charges, facing the music after years of exploiting a system designed to help others.
Beyond the prison sentence, Higa is on the hook for $38,642 in restitution – meaning he has to pay back the stolen AmeriCorps funds. He also faces a $38,642 forfeiture money judgment and 200 hours of community service. While some might see this as adequate punishment, it barely scratches the surface of the damage done to public trust.
AmeriCorps, a federally funded program, provides critical services across the country, from education and disaster relief to environmental conservation. Higa’s actions not only stole resources from those programs but also undermined the dedication of the individuals who commit themselves to national service. The feds’ handling of this case sends a message – though a late one – that exploiting public office for personal gain will not be tolerated, even in paradise.
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