Things are never dull at the airport.

Taxi driver John Park says he was cited for a misdemeanor traffic crime after he stopped paying what he claims was $20-a-day shakedown money to a private security guard at the airport.

Park says the guard told him that if he didn't pay, he wouldn't be able to pick up passengers at the airport. All told, Park says, he paid about $1,000 from November through mid-January.

The guard, who must be nameless at this point, denies it all.

"That's the kind of (stuff) you say after you get busted," the guard said when we asked him about Park's accusations.

Park's got no direct proof of the cash transactions, but he's got some fairly compelling evidence. For one thing, his cell phone records list 153 incoming calls from the security guard in just six weeks. No more calls after Park got his traffic citation.

The security guard first denied making any of the calls, then stopped talking to us altogether.

Two members of Park's Bible study group, which meets every Tuesday morning, support his version of events. They say Park received a call during Bible study in January and was so upset that he shared what was happening to him with the two group members.

Mrs. Shinn O, one of the members, said she counseled Park to stop paying the money.

Park says he listened to Mrs. O and others. A naturalized American citizen, Park says he knows he must respect the law. Park was born and raised in South Korea, but he's served 15 years in the U.S. Army, including 10 on active duty and five in the reserves. He's a Gulf War veteran.

"The Bible says you shouldn't do bad things," Park says. "So I told the man, I'm not going to give you any more money."

Not long after that, Park says, he was cited for illegally "soliciting passengers or fares on airport premises."

The guard that Park says he was paying was the official complainant, but the citation was actually issued by another guard who wouldn't listen to what he had to say, according to Park. "He said, 'I don't want to hear it. You shut up and stand over there.' "

An official with the guard company said, "I can't comment about something like that one way or the other."

Park says the attorney general's office is investigating.

At this point, Park's allegations are just that: allegations. If you know anything about this situation, or others like it, I'd be happy to hear from you.

If you know that a particular money trail will lead to boondoggle, excessive spending or white elephants, reach Jim Dooley at 535-2447 or jdooley@honoluluadvertiser.com