State Sen. J. Kalani English agreed to pay the state $1,000 to settle an ethics complaint over his use of free Hawai'i Air Ambulance flights to return home to Maui.

English, D-6th (E. Maui, Moloka'i, Lana'i), admitted taking the flights, staying at a Honolulu condominium owned by the company's chief executive, Andrew Kluger, and driving a car owned by Kluger while Kluger was on the Mainland. But English did not acknowledge any misconduct as part of the settlement, which was reached Nov. 23.

The Hawai'i State Ethics Commission had accused English of violating ethics law after a citizen complained to the Senate that the senator had taken free flights while legislation affecting the company was pending at the Legislature. The complaint also alleged that English improperly used Senate travel coupons and did not report the flights and the condominium stays as gifts.

English was out of the country and could not be reached for comment. His attorney also could not be reached. The senator has been an advocate for increasing federal reimbursement rates for air medical services for the poor.