WAILUKU - The Maui County Council on Friday authorized the Board of Ethics to hire an outside attorney for advice on a complaint against Council Member Wayne Nishiki.
The board proposes to ask an attorney from the Hawaii County corporation counsel to help on the case.
Total cost would be only $1,000 to cover the attorney's expenses.
Maui County attorneys said they could not advise the board on Nishiki, because the Office of Corporation Counsel is mandated to defend council members against complaints, presenting a conflict of interest.
The complaint against Nishiki stems from his late filing of a personal finance disclosure revealing a $100,000 loan from developer Everett Dowling.
