Sen. Gilbert Keith-Agaran, a Hawaii state senator, announced he will be stepping down from office after facing several conflicts of interest questions.
He cited the recent Maui fires as part of his reason for leaving, citing that it was in the best interests of the people affected by them.
This announcement has raised many eyebrows and ethical questions within the political realm of Hawaii and beyond.
Recently, Sen. Gilbert Keith-Agaran’s picture was spotted on a flyer that advertised a discussion with members from the law firm Takitani Agaran Jorgensen & Wildman where he serves as a partner and Morgan & Morgan “America’s largest injury law firm”.
Civil Beat reported just days before Keith-Agaran’s resignation that there were potential issues due to this connection; if push came to shove between representing constituents or clients, it is believed he may have chosen his law practice over politics.
State Sen. Gilbert Keith-Agaran is a partner in the law firm of partner at Takatani Agaran Jorgensen & Wildman that recently used his photo in a flyer to promote a community discussion in the aftermath of the Aug. 8 fires.
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In his statement regarding his retirement from public life, Sen. Keith-Agaran’s final day will be October 31st.
It has been an honor for him to represent all those affected by Central Maui communities throughout both his tenure in State Senate and State House alike.
This is something he expresses in his statement when making his departure known to the public: “I believe that this decision best serves interests of Maui people especially given what they have gone through over last three weeks”.
