Amid allegations of racism and creating a hostile work environment, calls for the resignation of two top state leaders have intensified in Hawaii. Ewa Beach Senator Kurt Fevella is urging Isaac Choy, acting chief administrative officer and VP of finance of Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA), and James Tokioka, director of Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, to step down following complaints about Choy's behavior towards staff, particularly towards women. These complaints have been brought to light after Fevella was informed of them and noted the concerns to the Attorney General’s office for further investigation, as reported by KHON2 News.
Choy, who's been accused of using the phrase "dumb Hawaiians" and displaying a chauvianistic attitude at the workplace, has countered these allegations firmly. He insists that he's not stepping down, welcoming any investigation into the matter. Asserting his stance, Choy told Hawaii News Now, "I am not a racist. I don’t even kind of know what the definition of the word is." In an attempt to swiftly rectify his language misstep from a contract negotiation two years prior, Choy stated, "I apologize profusely for that and it was very inartful of me of saying something like that and since that time, I don’t think I’ve been accused of saying that ever again." His apology, however, has done little to calm the storm.
The controversy has garnered the attention of Native Hawaiian leaders, including Kumu Hina, an ambassador for the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, who have joined forces with Fevella in demanding Choy's resignation. Amid the calls for action, Caroline Anderson, HTA’s interim president and CEO, has committed to addressing the issues responsibly. "We are committed to be an organization informed by Native Hawaiian values and always strive to provide a workplace where our staff and partners feel safe, valued, and respected," Anderson stated, emphasizing the organization's position on the matter, as reported by KHON 2 News.
Amidst this backdrop, Fevella has also pointed fingers at Tokioka, alleging that he was aware of Choy's conduct but failed to take the necessary disciplinary action. In his defense, Tokioka explained that he had admonished Choy and later provided a written warning when he discovered no reprimand had been handed down by Choy's direct supervisor. "I would be writing up a warning that would be placed in his personnel file and informing the Interim President & CEO of the written warning," Tokioka stated, according to a Hawaii News Now interview. Governor Josh Green has responded by directing an investigation, with Attorney General Ann Lopez and Department of Human Resources and Development director Hashimoto at the helm, to ensure thorough examination and appropriate measures be taken in response to these allegations.
