Education Department's $4 Million Travel Spending Faces Scrutiny Over Incomplete Records
For the third year running, Hawaii's education department has failed to provide state lawmakers with comprehensive documentation explaining how approximately $4 million was allocated for more than 8,000 work-related trips. This persistent reporting gap, covering travel from January through November 2025, has sparked significant criticism from legislators who argue the missing details hinder proper assessment of whether public funds were used appropriately during a period of fiscal constraint.
Critical Data Missing From Submitted Travel Documentation
The department submitted over 200 pages of travel records to the Legislature. However, of the 13 specific data points required by lawmakers for each trip, only five were consistently included: the general program involved, travel start and end dates, and the total expenditure. Notably absent were crucial details such as the job titles and position numbers of travelers, the specific purpose of each trip, and whether travel involved meetings, training sessions, or other activities.
The records also omitted information about funding sources, leaving legislators unable to determine whether trips were financed with state dollars, federal money, or other resources. Individual expenses varied dramatically from as little as $2 for a single day of travel to approximately $10,000 for an eight-day trip in May, with no accompanying explanations regarding destinations or spending categories.
Assistant Superintendent Brian Hallett acknowledged that some expenses reflected per diem payments for neighbor island travel. He explained that while the department requires administrative approval for trips, it lacks an effective system to compile travel data in the specific format requested by lawmakers.
Lawmakers Express Deep Accountability Concerns
Senate education committee chair Donna Kim stated the department appeared unable to readily access fundamental information. "They don't have the information at their fingertips, they're not keeping records," she remarked, highlighting systemic issues in data management.
Senator Samantha DeCorte emphasized during a hearing that spending approaching $4 million warrants close examination. "When the work-related travel accumulates to almost $4 million, it's important," she asserted, underscoring the scale of the expenditures.
Hallett countered that lawmakers had not previously raised concerns about the reporting format, despite similar requests in earlier years. He noted the department had less than two weeks to compile the records before budget briefings, suggesting time constraints contributed to the incomplete submission.
Broader Financial Oversight Issues Emerge
Some travel involved maintenance work at neighbor island schools, professional development initiatives, and student learning opportunities on the mainland. Hallett indicated certain trips utilized federal Covid relief funds rather than state dollars, though this critical distinction was not reflected in the submitted report.
This travel documentation problem follows other financial concerns within the department. The state auditor previously reported difficulties in fully tracking spending on school cooling projects, which limited oversight of approximately $100 million in air conditioning costs. Additionally, lawmakers questioned the department last year about escalating school meal expenses.
Legislative Proposals Aim to Curb Future Travel
In response to these issues, lawmakers have introduced legislation proposing a two-year moratorium on most state-funded employee travel, with exceptions for:
- Court appearances
- Federal compliance requirements
- Essential meetings deemed unavoidable
Agencies would still be permitted to approve professional development travel but would need to confirm that virtual alternatives were not feasible. Since summer 2023, the department has organized more than a dozen trips to South Korea for administrators and students, costing about $750,000. Kim noted that initial airfare figures were overstated before being corrected, further highlighting transparency issues.
