Title

Quotes:

"Broken Trust was by far the most popular text in my class.  Students loved it!"

-Professor William Edmond Sharp, Jr., Hawaii Pacific University

***

"I just finished reading 'Broken Trust' and it is brilliant!  I could not put it down.  For every question I had, there was an answer in the book.  It is clear, concise, historic, and hugely entertaining. This should be required reading for everyone, especially students.  I am also dismayed and discouraged that, in so many ways, nothing changed.  Maybe I am naive, but it makes me angry that the still sitting judiciary is responsible not only for the debacle, but the perpetuation of the same skewed selection process.  They have no shame, no remorse, no ethical or moral sense to make a change that is so obvious, only justification of their own behavior.  That the 'interim trustees', despite the IRS mandates, public outcry, legal cases, etc, kept the BE staff attorneys on the payroll completely boggles my mind.  Thank you for having the courage and the sheer grit to write this book.  Without this record, I have no doubt the players would continue minimizing the truth and erasing history to excuse actions that are truly inexcusable."

-Kathi Thomason, Accountant

***

"Broken Trust should be essential reading….  In the Enron age, when corporate boardroom practices are increasingly scrutinized and, sometimes, repudiated, Broken Trust provides an exemplary primer into the endurance of boards and their corporate interests when they are woven into the fabric of other institutions."

-Alexander Mawyer, Pacific Affairs

***

"I loved this book! Not only is the story amazing, and well-researched, but it is so well told. It was like reading a thriller; I could not wait to find out what would happen next. Who would have thought that a book about a charitable trust could be so exciting? Some of the characters are truly unforgettable. I guess truth really is stranger than fiction. I am still shaking my head at the fiduciary breaches and the conflicts of interest."

-Professor Mary LaFrance, University of Nevada School of Law


***
“I write a monthly column for Morningstar on fiduciary investment issues so naturally I have a deep interest in ensuring that non-profits invest and spend their money prudently. Nonetheless, I was not too keen on reading a 300-page book on a Hawaiian charitable trust while on my vacation. Boy, was I wrong! Broken Trust reads like a political thriller with a whole assortment of characters straight out of a Tom Clancy novel and plot twists that are always unexpected. What's most amazing, though, is that it all happened in real life. I really enjoyed this book; it was hard to put down. A great read!"

-W. Scott Simon, author of The Prudent Investor Act: A Guide to Understanding (2002)

***

“Broken Trust is not only a case study, but also offers larger lessons about the dangers of unchecked power and civil responsibility, and is very highly recommended reading for American and Hawaiian history shelves in public, college, and private libraries alike."

-Midwest Book Review Bookwatch
***
“Broken Trust recounts the story of rigged appointments, violated trusts, cynical manipulation of the trust’s beneficiaries, and the involvement of many of Hawaii’s most powerful citizens.”

-Yale University Law Report
***
“Broken Trust constitutes a compelling and relevant read for anyone interested in the disturbing trend of mismanagement among American corporations and nonprofit agencies…. Bishop Estate [was] the Enron of charitable trusts.

-James Walker and Michael Shea, Denver Law Alumni magazine

***
“The authors provide a penetrating view of how fiduciaries can be placed in a woeful pickle.”

-Professor Paul Carrington, Univ. of Buffalo Law Review

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“It is hard to imagine a better poster child for charitable malfeasance.... [F]inancial skullduggery looks to be only the consequence, not the cause, of a deeper rot.”

-Albert Keith Whitaker, Philanthropy Roundtable



***
"When I got started, I was not sure that I would last through the 'cultural background.'., I suspected that I would wind up jumping directly to the 'legal meat.'; That, however, is not how it turned out, as I found the 'cultural background' section to be absorbing and, in retrospect, an almost indispensable precursor to the 'legal meat' section.."

-Conrad Weiser, Trust Lawyer

***


"Gotta confess, I took half a dozen books on a recent mainland trip, including Broken Trust.  Since I thought it would be pretty dry, and I was already familiar with the story via the newspaper excerpts, I put off opening it.  But on the way home, after I'd finished every book and magazine I'd brought, as a last resort I opened Broken Trust for the return flight.  Wow!  I was captivated.  Inadvertently, I'd saved the best for last.  Couldn't quite get over your capturing of so much detail.  It reads like an adventure novel, the way characters are casually introduced, and later we learn what role they ultimately play in the drama.  You've not only provided us a really valuable record for the future, but  an entertaining adventure story, as well."

-John M. Corboy, M.D.

* * *

"My youngest son--my quiet one--just finished reading Broken Trust.  He's amazed by the story, and loves to talk about it, even with his mother.  We haven't talked this much in years!" 

-Lucinda Pyles, Honolulu

* * *

"No case has been more revealing of the opportunities for evil by lawyers than that of the Bishop Estate.  The real beneficiaries became those to whom Mrs. Bishop had entrusted her wealth." 

-Lizabeth Moody, Dean Emeritus and Distinguished University Professor, Stetson University College of Law

* * *

"Broken Trust brought me through every emotion. It is a straightforward lesson in trust obligation and accountability for sure, but it is also a glimpse into the communal conscience and value system of our ancestors and the Hawaiian community today. Whatever one takes away from the reading of this book -- you cannot miss the opportunity to be inspired by everyday community members who put a stake in the ground, tied themselves to it, and faced the storm."

-Robin Danner, President of the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement

* * *

“Broken Trust contains interesting facts about Hawaiian history, anecdotes demonstrating leadership at its best (and worst), and an inspiring story of grassroots democracy.  Our teachers will be using it in Modern Hawaiian History, Participation in Democracy, and Hawaiian Academy.  We believe this book will spark many lively and informed discussions, not just among students in the classroom, but also at home around the dinner table." 

 -Catherine Payne, Principal of Farrington High School

* * *

“I couldn't put the book down until I had finished it.”

-Bob Stein, Executive Director, American Bar Association

* * *

“The two-year, emotionally charged crisis, which made headlines almost every day in the Islands, and was called ‘the biggest story in Hawaii since Pearl Harbor’ by 60 Minutes, is an arguably more absorbing story in book form, with new details and accounts of secret meetings, than it was in the slow-developing daily newspaper drama.  Almost certainly Hawaii’s book of the year, a morality tale for each and every one of us.” 

-Spirit of Aloha Magazine, March/April 2006

* * *

“King and Roth build tension and suspense by describing how the trustees react to the tightening grip of at least four separate civil and criminal investigations.  Subpoenas fly, surveillance photos are snapped, phones are bugged, tires are slashed, judges cry in court, suicide factors in.  The IRS swoops in like a huge predatory bird and threatens to revoke the trust's tax-exempt status, which would cripple the schools.  Is paradise lost?” 

-Eve Lichtgarn, Book Reviewer

* * *

“THERE is an unwritten list of requirements before someone can claim to be from Hawaii.  Generally, that list includes speaking pidgin without someone's hair standing on end; having at least two pairs of "rubbah slippahs" for formal and informal occasions; and being able to sing "Hawaii Pono'i" and "Hawaii Aloha" from memory.  That list should now include the compulsory reading of the recently published book, Broken Trust: Greed, Mismanagement & Political Manipulation at America’s Largest Charitable Trust.” 

-Ted Hong, Big Island Attorney

* * *

"I just finished Broken Trust last night.  I couldn't put it down!  It read like a novel and I couldn't wait to get to the ending."

-Martin D. Begleiter, Ellis and Nelle Levitt Distinguished Professor of Law, Drake University Law School

* * *

“The book is quite extraordinary.  I'm amazed at the level of detail - both in terms of the information and the authors' willingness to share it given the politicized nature of the subject matter.  I'm also astonished that, with so much factual information, the book is incredibly engaging.  It reads like a story -- with the figure of B.P. Bishop looming silently in the background -- rather than a historical text.  Perhaps most importantly, I appreciate the apparent balance represented in the work.  My inclination is to be sympathetic to the plight of Native Hawaiians.  Yet, whenever I began to think the book reflected a pro-Western bias, the pendulum would swing almost immediately in the other direction.  Or, maybe, it's just that I began to see as I turned the pages, how the issues surrounding the Bishop Estate and Native Hawaiians are not black and white, but clouded with all sorts of complications and shades of gray.”

 -Professor Trina Jones, Duke University School of Law

* * *

“By beginning the book with a reasoned tribute to Princess Pauahi and a history of Hawaii, the authors do the important job of establishing the significance of the Bishop Estate and Kamehameha Schools.  Building on this, they tell a nuanced story of greed countered by integrity, intimidation met by resolve, and imperiousness vanquished by activism.” 

-Andrea Stith, Foundation News & Commentary, May/June 2006

* * *

“… a breath-taking panoramic view, not only of the post-contact history of Hawaii, but also an intimate portrait of the birth, development, and travails of the world’s wealthiest charitable trust….  … an inspiring universal story of corruption and hubris, personal courage and integrity, civic responsibility, and cautious hope for an informed community committed to democratic process and ideals.” 

-David Farmer, Hawaii Bar Journal, July 2006

* * *

“The players in Broken Trust jump off the page….  What makes Broken Trust so fascinating is that it works on multiple levels.  It's a well researched book about Hawaii's history and culture; a dramatic story of judicial, political, and corporate corruption; and a cautionary tale for acting or future charitable trust board members on everything you shouldn't do if you want to respect your organization's mission and ensure the public's trust.” 

-Christopher Quay, Exempt Organization Tax Review, June 2006

* * *

"Broken Trust is riveting … fascinating … a thriller …. [A]s I read, I could not help having Lord Acton’s maxim that absolute power corrupts absolutely pop up in my mind.” 

-Robert Kunes, American College of Trust and Estate Counsel Journal, March 2006

* * *

“Once started, I couldn't put down ‘Broken Trust,’ Judge Sam King and Randy Roth's spellbinding expose of misplaced power and poetic justice.  Pauahi would be proud.”

-Cobey Black, author of “Princess Pauahi and Her Legacy”

* * *

"It's absurdly hard to write a book about trusts that is exciting, but Randall Roth and Judge King have done just that.  This is a story of epic battle, of the power of charitable trust, of political corruption, and redemption.  In short, of life itself.  And you and your wills students will love it….  I highly recommend Broken Trust to you and to your students; it's well worth assigning to your wills class.  You'll enjoy it--trust me on this one." 

-Professor Alfred Brophy, University of Alabama School of Law

* * *

“Who would have known that one of the best follow-the-money courtroom thrillers was not to be found on the fiction shelves, but rather in the non-fiction section?” 

-Eve Lichtgarn, Book Reviewer

* * *

“Finishing the book reminded me of the scene in the prophetic movie ‘Network,’ where ordinary citizens threw open their windows and yelled, ‘I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore!’” 

-Ted Hong, Big Island Attorney

* * *

“The authors … could have simply told a trite tale of good conquering evil.  Instead, they have related a nuanced and informative story that provides the reader with insight into a painful period in Hawaiian history.” 

-Foundation News & Commentary, May/June, 2006

* * *

“While a story about corruption itself is, alas, hardly exceptional, this tale is uniquely Hawaiian.  By beginning the book with a reasoned tribute to the Princess Pauahi and a history of Hawaii, the authors do the important job of establishing the significance of the Bishop Estate and the Kamehameha Schools.  Building on this, they tell a nuanced story of greed countered by integrity, intimidation met by resolve, and imperiousness vanquished by activism.” 

-Foundation News & Commentary, May/June, 2006

* * *

“[B]rave men and women stood up to fight the trustees at great personal peril, facing the real possibility of job loss, or blacklisting.  Eventually they won.  The whole story would make a fantastic opera.  Imagine the singing roles of Lokelani, Henry, Dickie and Jervis opposed by Nona Beamer, Beadie Dawson, David Shapiro, and Michael Chun.  It would be a boffo performance!”

-Peter Armstrong, Iolani School Teacher

* * *

“The true story of the modern plundering of Hawaii's Bishop Estate Charitable Trust, described as "a world record for breaches of trust," has elements most novelists couldn't devise.” 

-Eve Lichtgarn, Book Reviewer

* * *

“Framed within a social-historical backdrop that details Hawaii's proud native culture, its hesitant annexation by the United States, its suspicion of haoles (a Hawaiian word for outsiders), and its insular politics, Broken Trust provides the requisite backdrop for a story about a charity that was allowed to operate unfettered by the checks and balances that regulate most charities on the mainland.” 

-The Exempt Organization Tax Review, June, 2006

* * *

"While many other books of its kind pay marginal attention to character exposition, the players in Broken Trust jump off the page. The authors spare no intimate details rendering people like Lokelani Lindsey -- the cantankerous, controlling trustee who frequently intimidated Kamehameha faculty, staff, and students -- and Oz Stender, the maverick voice of virtue among the five trustees.” 

-The Exempt Organization Tax Review, June, 2006

* * *

“What makes Broken Trust so fascinating is that it works on multiple levels. It's a well researched book about Hawaii's history and culture; a dramatic story of judicial, political, and corporate corruption; and a cautionary tale for acting or future charitable trust board members on everything you shouldn't do if you want to respect your organization's mission and ensure the public's trust.” 

-The Exempt Organization Tax Review, June, 2006

* * *

"This book should become must reading for any lawyer who expects to practice law in the area of trusts and estates." 

-Judge Robert Beezer, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

* * *

"The Bishop Trust saga is unique in US philanthropic history in a variety of ways, and this book captures the full story, from its historical beginnings in the Nineteenth Century through a growing record of mismanagement and abuse, to the trustees’ ultimate comeuppance....  The authors tell a fascinating story.  There also are valuable lessons ....  One noteworthy fact in today’s climate, as Congress considers new penalties and restrictions, is that virtually all of the misdeeds of the Bishop trustees were illegal under existing law.  There, as in so many of today’s press accounts of misdeeds among charities, the regulators failed to enforce the law, detect the offenses as they occur and punish the miscreants.  The result was to foster a culture of bad behavior at the highest level of public life.  For this reason, it should be required reading for anyone concerned with charities." 

-Jerry J. McCoy, Author of Family Foundation Handbook

* * *

In addition to being named "Book of the Year" by the Hawaii Book Publishers Association, Broken Trust was a Scribes Prize Nominee for Books for Lawyers in 2007.  Scribes is a national organization founded in 1953 "to honor legal writers and encourage a 'clear, succinct, and forceful style in legal writing.'"  Here's how Broken Trust was described in a list of top contenders:  "A fascinating history and polemic describing the failure of the educational trust in Hawaii. King and Roth tell a richly researched story that details incompetence and abuse by the trustees of a ten billion dollar trust and rightly implicates every aspect of state government in the failure to carry out the worthy purposes of the trust. This book vividly highlights the danger of limited powers of beneficiaries to enforce a public trust."
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©2006 Randall W. Roth