In the text of her statement on Oct. 31, 2008 Onaka was included by title but not by name.
Remember the October 2008 statement went out under Okubo. The July 2009 statement was supposedly issued by Fukino but follow-up emails with questions were answered by Okubo. Specifically an e-mail from Okubo claimed the Hawaii AG reviewed the statement prior to its release. The Hawaii AG, in writing, has said they did not.
Okubo is still around. She issued the statement from DOH on the resignation of Palafox. So Okubo is the queen bee of HDOH. She is probably with connected with the powers. As Communication Director and apparently in a merit position she can act as the gatekeeper.
The Fukino July 2009 statement was not live. It was simply ‘released’. It is possible Okubo released it without support of Fukino.