HONOLULU (KHON2) — The two newest members of the Hawaii Tourism Authority board were officially confirmed by a Senate committee on April 1. But lawmakers first demanded some changes throughout the entire organization.
Lawmakers made their expectations clear — they want active members for the Hawaii Tourism Authority’s Board of Directors.
“I will read the minutes, I will watch the hearings, and if you’re rubber stamping stuff and you don’t discuss, you don’t bring up issues, you don’t about, and then you just vote without any of that kind of dialogue going on, then something’s wrong,” said Sen. Donna Kim of the Economic Development and Tourism Committee.
The Senate’s committee on Economic Development and Tourism confirmed the board’s two newest members — former councilmember Todd Apo, and Roberts Hawaii CEO Roy Pfund.
Apo was just voted as board chair last week during what he admits is a “time of transition” for HTA. Former Chair Mufi Hannemann resigned after a state audit questioned discounted services at the Hawaii Convention Center involving two nonprofits he runs. No fraud was found.
Interim CEO Daniel Nahoopii resigned two weeks ago and had harsh criticism for HTA.
“He says here quote it is deeply troubling that instead of empowering HTA’s leadership to drive meaningful change, political maneuvering and external influences have created an environment of uncertainty and hesitation and at times outright hostility,” said Sen. Glenn Wakai, the Economic Development and Tourism committee vice-chair.
“My first step from a board chair’s standpoint, is to sit down with leadership and understand that first,” said Todd Apo, Hawaii Tourism Authority Board chair. “I’m also going to the staff meeting this week to address the staff. And let them know that, although I’m not gonna get involved in their work, as a board chair side, I’m open to hearing from them.”
Both Apo and Pfund were appointed to the board last year.
Apo says the lack of a permanent CEO is partly due to the fact that HTA falls under the state’s Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. So it’s been challenging to get the approvals for a proper compensation package.
“The fact that we don’t have a CEO rests with the board,” Kim said. “This is like, what comes first, the chicken or the egg. And I know I’ve been saying, when is the board going to select a new CEO.”
HTA’s Director of Planning Caroline Anderson is now serving as interim CEO.