Hawaii state Rep. Sylvia Luke agreed to accept $35,000 in campaign funds in exchange for steering COVID-19 testing emergency appropriations

On January 20, 2022, Hawaii state Rep. Sylvia Luke — then chair of the House Finance Committee, the most powerful fiscal position in the state legislature — attended a dinner with businessman Tobi Solidum at Morton's Steakhouse in Honolulu's Ala Moana Shopping Center. According to a 30-page state grand jury indictment filed July 25, 2026, Solidum told Luke at that dinner that he had committed $70,000 to her campaign and would deliver an initial $35,000 immediately. In exchange, Solidum asked Luke to use her position to push the state Disease Outbreak and Control Division to release emergency appropriations for COVID-19 testing contracts held by the National Kidney Foundation of Hawaii, whose operations Solidum's consulting firm managed at a cost of more than $7 million.

Luke's cooperation followed promptly. The day after the dinner, she arranged for state Rep. Linda Ichiyama — who led the House committee overseeing the pandemic response — to schedule a meeting about emergency appropriations. On January 25, 2022, Luke attended that meeting and discussed directing health department emergency funds to COVID-19 testing. The indictment, covering the period February 2020 to April 2022, also names ex-state Rep. Ryan Yamane, former Public Utilities Commission chair Dennis Asunción, airports official Keith Fuchigami, and Solidum as co-defendants on related bribery and conspiracy counts.

Luke subsequently became Hawaii's budget director and then Lt. Governor before her 2026 indictment.

Updates

2026-04-20 — Luke withdrew reelection bid amid scandal; took indefinite unpaid leave days later [4][5]

Luke announced April 20, 2026 that she would not seek reelection as lieutenant governor, citing stress on her family; the withdrawal came amid public scrutiny of the January 2022 bribery arrangement. On April 23, she announced an indefinite unpaid leave of absence from the position, with state comptroller Keith Regan assuming her constitutional duties.

2026-07-25 — Luke indicted on 12 bribery and conspiracy counts; governor calls for resignation [1]

Luke was indicted on 12 counts on July 25, 2026, following a six-month state attorney general investigation. The indictment built on a Civil Beat document describing a $35,000 payment to an "influential" lawmaker and the cooperation of Rep. Ty Cullen — who had been present at the Morton's dinner recording for the FBI following his own bribery arrest. Gov. Josh Green called on Luke to resign following the indictment.