Broken Trust: Greed, Mismanagement & Political Manipulation at America's Largest Charitable Trust


Discussion Questions

  • Chapter 13:  Like Investigating the CIA
    • In your own words, explain why Governor Cayetano ordered an investigation of Bishop Estate.
    • In your own words, explain why did Governor Cayetano did not order an investigation of Bishop Estate before the Broken Trust essay appeared in the Star-Bulletin.
    • After reading the Broken Trust essay and hearing that Governor Cayetano had instructed the attorney general to investigate Bishop Estate, the court-appointed master, Colbert Matsumoto, told friends, “It’s a whole new ball game.”  What do you think he meant by that?
    • The master and the fact-finder both felt strongly that the courtroom, not the newspapers, was the proper place to present findings and make recommendations.  Do you agree?  Why or why not?
    • Unlike the master and the fact-finder, the attorney general welcomed media attention.  According to the authors, she spent more time with reporters than in court.  Do you think her strategy was a good one?  Why or why not?
    • Beginning on page 169 attorney general Bronster is described as a “fearless dragon slayer,” and as a “Rambo.”  What does that mean?  Can you see both advantages and disadvantages to having that kind of reputation?
    • Trustee Stender asked in a memo to the other trustees, “Are we engaging the services of these attorneys to protect the legacy or to protect trustees?”  Do you think he expected an answer to this question, or that he asked it simply to make a point?  If the latter, what was his point?
    • The attorney general complained that the trustees’ lawyers were “stonewalling.”  What does that mean?  Can you think of a time when you or someone around you “stonewalled?”  Is “stonewalling” always a good or bad thing, or does it depend on the circumstances?  If the latter, when might it be good to “stonewall?”
    • The judge ruled that the attorney general could not “force production of privileged documents.”  What does that mean?  Why would that ruling be a “crippling blow” to her investigation?
    • In your own words, what did master Matsumoto discover about Bishop Estate?  Why was he able to get access to documents that attorney general Bronster could not get?
    • Master Matsumoto feared a “whitewash” by the fact-finder.  What is a “whitewash?”  Why do you think Matsumoto was so suspicious of the fact-finder?
    • The authors mention hooponopono, something they describe as a “Hawaiian form of mediation.”  How would you describe it?  Have you ever seen or been a part of hooponopono?  Do you think it has value?
    • Why do you think trustee Lindsey gave copies of her “confidential” report to reporters? 
    • Explain the cartoon on page 178.
    • Compare the fact-finder’s description of trustee Lindsey on page 178 with those from her co-workers that appear in the middle of page 109.  Assuming the quoted words on page 109 all accurately described Lindsey when she worked in the public school system, do you think she changed much after becoming a trustee?
    • According to the fact-finder, trustee Lindsey had demanded that kindergarteners learn by Christmas of each year to identify the trustees by picture and name.  What do you think about that?  If you were a trustee, would you want Kamehameha students to be able to recognize you?  Why?
    • The authors describe the majority trustees on page 179 as being in a “desperate state of damage control.”  What does that mean? 
    • On the bottom of page 179 the majority trustees say very negative things about the accountant who helped master Matsumoto, calling him “a small-time pencil pusher.”  Why do you think they were so critical of him?
    • Trustee Peters told staff members that, “One does not deal honorably with dishonorable people.”  What does that mean?  Is it another way of saying that a person sometimes needs to “fight fire with fire?”  Do you agree with trustee Peters that it’s okay to deal dishonorably when dealing with dishonorable people?
    • Why do you think trustee Jervis decided to switch sides in the controversy? 
    • What is “opportunism?”  Is it always wrong to be opportunistic? 
    • Explain the cartoon on page 180.
    • Why did trustee Stender wait eight years before asking a judge to remove a fellow trustee?  Would you have acted sooner?  If so, do you think you would have won?  How much do you think it would have cost you in legal fees?
    • Explain the cartoon on page 182.
    • Beginning on page 182 the authors describe the justices’ decision to stop selecting Bishop Estate trustees.  Why do you think the justices made that decision?  Do you think it was a good decision?  What, if anything, would you have done differently if you were one of those justices?
    • In your own words, explain the quote from the Advertiser that appears on page 183.
    • Governor Cayetano was adamant that the selection of Bishop Estate trustees “cannot be left to one judge.”  Do you agree?  If so, how should Kamehameha Schools trustees be chosen?