Adding to this excellent article by Ian, I would like to make a point about the nature of this money. 

As everyone knows in Hawaii, we have one real commodity and that is land. Like in other places in the world where an economy is run off of the profit (or loss) of one main commodity, Hawaii in turn faces the same influence issues from those who work and profit from the increase in the commodity price. 

In other words, those who trade in the commodity would want to be sure that both friends are placed in influential positions to advance goals, as well as being sure that resources are used to influence others to become friends. Politicians who profit (in their campaigns) from the land developers need to be careful not to be seen as being overtly influenced by  the developers lest they be seen as nothing more than the developers whipping boy (or girl). 

As long as we have land developers, and they see a profit, we will also, unfortunately, see undue influence show up like Hoakalei.