BANKRUPTCY TRUSTEES

NOTICES
05/09/2008

Notice Regarding Debtor Audits
As mandated in Section 603(a) of Public Law 109-8, the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005, the United States Trustee Program (USTP) established procedures to audit petitions, schedules, and other information in consumer bankruptcy cases filed on or after October 20, 2006.  Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 586(f), the USTP contracted with independent accounting firms to perform audits in cases designated by the USTP.

In January 2008, the USTP temporarily suspended its designation of cases subject to audit for budgetary reasons.  The USTP is preparing to resume its designation of cases, although random audits will now be conducted in 1 out of 1,000 cases (as opposed to 1:250 cases) filed in a judicial district.  The USTP will resume its designation of cases subject to audit effective May 12, 2008.
02/26/2008 Press Release: Appointment of Acting United States Trustee
01/01/2008 New Chapter 11 Quarterly Fee Increases
The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2008 contains a provision that increased the quarterly fees on disbursements paid by chapter 11 debtors in U.S. trustee regions. The new fees went into effect on January 1, 2008.

UNITED STATES TRUSTEE PROGRAM

The United States Trustee Program is a component of the Department of Justice that is responsible for overseeing the administration of bankruptcy cases and private trustees who administer bankruptcy estates.  It also identifies and helps investigate bankruptcy fraud and abuse in coordination with United States Attorneys, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and other law enforcement agencies.  The Program consists of an Executive Office for U.S. Trustees in Washington, D.C., 21 regional offices, and 95 field offices.

REPORT BANKRUPTCY FRAUD

Detecting and combating Bankruptcy Fraud is a U.S. Trustee Program priority. For information on how to report suspected bankruptcy fraud, click here.

UNITED STATES TRUSTEE – REGION 15
Bankruptcy cases and privates trustees in the District of Hawaii are overseen by the United States Trustee for Region 15, based in San Diego, California.

TIFFANY L. CARROLL, Acting United States Trustee
402 West Broadway, Suite 600
San Diego, CA 92101-8511
Phone:  619.557.5013  Fax:  619.557.5339

ASSISTANT UNITED STATES TRUSTEE – HAWAII

CURTIS B. CHING , Assistant United States Trustee
1132 Bishop Street, Suite 602
Honolulu, HI 96813-2836
Phone:  808.522.8150  Fax:  808.522.8156

CASE TRUSTEES

Case trustees are private trustees, not government employees, appointed by the United States Trustee to administer bankruptcy cases under specific chapters.

CHAPTER 7 PANEL TRUSTEES
Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 586, the Unites States Trustee is authorized to establish a panel of private trustees eligible to serve as trustees in Chapter 7 cases.  Immediately after the filing of a voluntary petition, a member of this panel is appointed as interim trustee and serves as trustee throughout the case unless creditors request an election and another person is elected trustee.  The members of the Chapter 7 Trustee panel in the District of Hawaii are:

DAVID C. FARMER
PO Box 4379
Honolulu, HI 96812-4379
Phone:  808.222.3133  Fax: 866.559.2922
Email: farmerd001@hawaii.rr.com             

DANE S. FIELD
PO Box 4198
Honolulu, HI 96812
Phone:  808.232.8788  Fax: 808.531.1020
Email: dfield@hawaii.rr.com

ELIZABETH A. KANE
PO Box 1573
Honolulu, HI 96806
Phone: 808.525.6301 Fax: 808.525.6302
Email: trustee@kanelawhawaii.com

RICHARD A. YANAGI
1136 Union Mall #303
Honolulu, HI 96813
Phone:  808.599.0339   Fax:  808.356.0829
Email: yanagichap7@gmail.com

CHAPTER 12 TRUSTEES
Trustees for Chapter 12 cases are assigned on a case by case basis.

CHAPTER 13 STANDING TRUSTEE
Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 586, the Unites States Trustee is authorized to appoint a standing trustee to serve as trustee in all Chapter 13 cases.  The standing trustee appointed in the District of Hawaii is:

HOWARD M.S.HU
1132 Bishop Street, Suite 301
Honolulu, HI 96813
Phone:  808.526.3083  Fax:  808.531.8844
Email: chapt13hi@aol.com