The City Council yesterday accepted an anonymous donation of $9,263.10 to help send the Royal Hawaiian Band on a concert tour of Japan, despite objections from one council member that the move violates council policy.

Windward Councilwoman Barbara Marshall voted against accepting the money for travel expenses for 42 members of the municipal band, singers and dancers to go on a six-day trip to Japan. The trip begins today.

City Managing Director Jeff Coelho said he was told the donor was a man who left the money at Japan Travel Bureau offices after the band's support organization voted against donating that exact amount for the band's trip.

A company listed as U'ilani Japan Inc. donated $54,091 to pay most trip costs, but it was the smaller amount from a mystery donor that raised questions. "I have grave concerns about accepting anonymous gifts," Marshall said.

Councilman Romy Cachola said he reluctantly agreed to accept the gift because rejecting it could jeopardize the band's trip and harm the city's and the band's reputation. "Basically, it's the city's integrity at stake," Cachola said.

Councilman Charles Djou said he was perplexed by the controversy because he does not see what someone would stand to gain through an anonymous donation to the band.

Djou said he understands concerns about unknown donors in general.

But he said those issues raise flags with officials with more power and influence over permits, contracts and city policies, he said."Without meaning to belittle the bandmaster, I don't know who would want to bribe him," Djou said.

Nine members of the band — eight wearing their blue aloha shirts — testified in support of the donation at the council meeting at Kapolei Hale.

Council Chairman Donovan Dela Cruz said the council policy is to accept donations with the name and address of the donor. But he said he believed the administration of Mayor Mufi Hannemann had tried to find out who the donor was and that the donation would prompt no special treatment.

"We've been assured by the administration that this gift is not going to impact any future decision," Dela Cruz said.

"If we felt there was any indication of impropriety with this donation, we would not accept it," Coelho said. "If someone tried to get a favor, we would disclose it. We're 100 percent ethical and we're 100 percent aboveboard."

Hannemann leaves Saturday for his own trip to Japan, where he is expected to look at various rail-transit options and meet with officials about potential links to Honolulu.

Reach Robbie Dingeman at rdingeman@honoluluadvertiser.com.