HONOLULU (KHON2) — A state senator is calling for two top state leaders to resign after allegations of derogatory comments, demeaning comments to staff and an alleged cover up.
Ewa Beach Senator Kurt Fevella said he was recently notified of complaints against Isaac Choy, a former state representative who’s acting chief administrative officer and VP of finance of Hawaii tourism authority.
The allegations say Choy created a hostile work environment by making derogatory comments about Hawaiians and belittling female board members.
“Very disturbing,” said Sen. Kurt Fevella, (R) Ewa Beach, Ocean Pointe, Iroquois Point. “But most disturbing is that complaints were made to HR. Two female board members had made complaints to the AG on their complaints about how he treat females in the workplace. Very chauvanist of him.”
Fevella sent a letter on May 1 to the Attorney General’s office, asking for an investigation. Now he wants Choy gone.
“I’m asking the HTA board, Todd Apo, and the rest of the board members to come to a conclusion to let Isaac go,” said Fevella.
In a statement, HTA’s interim president and CEO Caroline Anderson said “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.”
She continued saying “we take this situation seriously and will resolve it responsibly.”
Fevella’s also demanding DBEDT Director James Tokioka to be dismissed as well, because he said Tokioka knew about Choy, but did nothing.
In a statement, Tokioka said he spoke to then-HTA president and CEO Daniel Nahoopii about the issue in August 2023, when the incident happened.
Tokioka said a month later, he checked back to see if Choy had been reprimanded. Nahoopii said no so Tokioka took it upon himself to formally write up a warning against Choy, which Nahoopii was notified of, and which Nahoopii took no further action on.
A spokesperson for the Governor said Green has directed the AG’s office to investigate and identify any appropriate next steps.