Nepotism, ethics violations, conflicts of interest, abuse, waste and fraud. All are accusations that have been brought against individual charter schools in Hawaii in the last year.

Then there was one charter school principal's abrupt and unexplained recent departure mid-school year, and one wildly unpopular decision to convert a traditional public school into a charter.

WAIPAHU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) – The fired former head of Hawaii Technology Academy and his vice principal spent about $100,000 in state school funds on travel in one year, and an auditor found that "abuse, waste or fraud" likely occurred at the state's largest charter school.

The state Attorney General's office is investigating and HTA parents are angry about the information that Hawaii News Now discovered.

Despite a plea by staff and community members for his reinstatement, former Wai­mea Middle School Principal John Colson will not be able to return to finish the school year, he told his staff in an email.

"I write to thank you all for your incredible show of support of the past couple of weeks," Colson wrote in the message, titled "aloha," sent Sunday to the staff of the Hawaii island charter school. "I am really sorry to have put you through such an ordeal.

The Ho'okako'o School Board, by terminating Mr. John Colson as principal from Waimea Middle Public Conversion Charter School on the Big Island has disrupted our school, disrupted the learning of our children and their studies, and disrespected the parents by removing Mr. John Colson. With no explanation to the children, parents, or community this is inexcusable!