Imagine overseeing a project so vast and complex that it not only shapes the skyline but also the future of an entire city. That’s the day-to-day reality for the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART), tasked with managing the largest public works project in Hawaii’s history. Yet, amidst this monumental endeavor, a crucial process intended to ensure accountability and efficiency faces possible cancellation, sparking debate and frustration among its overseers.
Audit Audacity: The Proposal to Pause
At the heart of the controversy is a recommendation to halt the 2023 internal audit solicitation, a process designed to review HART’s operational efficiency, financial reporting reliability, and legal compliance. Edwin Young, chair of HART’s Internal Audit Committee and a seasoned auditor himself, cites several reasons for the proposed pause. The bids for the audit came in higher than expected, and the standards they invoked did not align with government auditing practices. Furthermore, Young pointed out that the city already employs around 42 full-time positions that fulfill similar oversight functions, suggesting an overlap…
