A grand jury has indicted Hawaii Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke (D) on charges of criminal conspiracy to commit bribery, bribery, and falsifying candidate committee reports.
The allegations stem from an interaction with local businessman and lobbyist Tobi Solidum that took place in 2022.
The indictment alleges Solidum offered Luke a $35,000 bribe in connection to a company he recommended to the state for a COVID-19 testing contract he was connected to.
Also included in the indictment were Solidum, former state representative Ryan Yamane (D), Ford Fuchigami, an official with Hawaii’s Transportation Department and Democrat political advisor, and Leo Asunción, a former official for Hawaii’s public utilities commission.
In January 2022, with his client’s contracts set to expire soon, Solidum met with Luke at a steakhouse and allegedly gave her two $5,000 checks made out to her campaign committee Friends of Sylvia Luke, according to prosecutors.
“By next week, we’ll have 35, so it will be halfway to our 70,” Solidum allegedly told Luke, promising to give her $70,000, according to the indictment.
“Oh wow,” Luke allegedly replied, adding, “That’s terrific,” according to the documents.
Luke admitted to accepting the two $5,000 checks, but denied taking more than that and also denied any money influencing her lawmaking.“I never granted special favors to a contributor,” she said in a social media post, adding that she “prized integrity and honesty above all throughout her career.”
The following charges were handed down:
- Sylvia Luke was indicted for criminal conspiracy to commit bribery, bribery, and falsifying candidate committee reports, and bail was set at $80,000.
- Tobi Solidum was indicted for four counts of conspiracy to commit bribery and three counts of bribery, with no bail set.
- Ford Fuchigami was indicted for conspiracy to commit bribery, bribery, use of false statements and obstruction of justice, and bail was set at $80,000.
- Ryan Yamane was indicted for conspiracy to commit bribery and bribery with bail set at $150,000.
- Leo Asunción was indicted for falsifying candidate committee reports, use of false statements, and obstruction of justice with bail set at $80,000.
View the indictments here via KITV.
Luke was planning to run for reelection as Hawaii’s Lieutenant Governor, seeking a second term in the 2026 election.
In April, however, she formally abandoned that bid, saying in a statement that she decided not to seek reelection after discussions with family and close friends.
Watch:
The indictments against five people, including Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke and current airports administrator Ford Fuchigami, followed a day-long grand jury session.
The investigation spawned from the federal bribery case that landed former state Rep. Ty Cullen and former state Sen.… pic.twitter.com/VT7r0uvsDL
— Hawaii News Now (@HawaiiNewsNow) July 25, 2026
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