Clash Over Hawai‘i Tourism Authority’s Search for New Leadership Intensifies

Waikiki: There’s some serious tension brewing over at the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority (HTA). The board and the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) are clashing over budget issues and hiring practices. This is a big deal because it’s the first real test of how the tourism agency is tied to DBEDT.

DBEDT Director James Kunane Tokioka, who’s also on the HTA board, is pushing for a $70 million budget instead of the $80 million the board wants. This disagreement is holding up the hiring of a new president and CEO, mainly due to salary concerns raised by Governor Josh Green.

Before they brought in Bishop & Co. for the executive search, the HTA board had already approved a salary bump for the top executive to $300,000. That’s a $50,000 increase, which was included in the budget passed by state legislators. But now, the search is on pause because Tokioka mentioned that Green won’t approve a hire over $188,800, which is the salary cap for the lieutenant governor.

The Governor’s Office explained that this salary adjustment reflects HTA’s new streamlined operations. They’ve downsized staff and are relying more on contractors, which means the new president and CEO will focus on managing contracts rather than leading a large team.

Tokioka has been more involved with HTA since a new law took effect, making it less autonomous. He’s trying to work with the board while sticking to the guidelines he’s been given. This change comes after years of budget cuts and uncertainty for HTA, which has struggled to maintain its operations.

The current situation is a far cry from when HTA was created to have more independence. Experts say that the job of HTA president and CEO is crucial for Hawaii’s economy, and the reduced salary could deter top talent from applying.

With HTA currently short-staffed and lacking a permanent leader since September, the board is eager to fill the top position and other key roles. They need to convince the Legislature and the governor to provide consistent funding and competitive salaries to attract the best candidates.

As it stands, the future of HTA’s leadership search is uncertain, and Tokioka mentioned that they might need to repost the job due to the salary changes. It’s a bit of a mess, and the confusion isn’t helping anyone involved.