ever hear of those rare stories, of someone who didn't go to work for years and got paid? Well, this one is still ongoing, after 5 years, because a Honolulu prosecutor’s office investigator is still on paid leave while his mileage reimbursements are investigated for possible fraud

And every year that goes by is a step closer to eligibility for a lifetime of retirement benefits.

Whether Kaaa-Swain, is guilty of falsifying his expenses or not, a Civil Beat review found the county has now paid him at least $300,000 and counting while he’s been out — about 25 times the amount he is suspected of stealing.

few hundred Hawaiʻi employees on extended periods of paid leave during misconduct investigations. Employees in agencies ranging from the Hawaiʻi Department of Education to the Department of Health have taken protracted absences from work pending investigations.

Union employees are protected from at-will firings, so investigations must validate misconduct allegations before disciplinary action is taken. However, government officials say there is a lack of qualified staff to investigate claims of wrongdoing, and some cases pose difficulties due to complexity or witness availability.

https://www.civilbeat.org/2025/07/honolulu-worker-paid-not-to-work-for-nearly-five-years/

unresolved mileage reimbursements... 5 years, 60k a year. To not go to work.