03-07-2025
A clean slate at the Hawaii Tourism Authority
Christine Hitt
All members of the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) board of directors have resigned, clearing the way for Gov. Josh Green to make new appointments.
In June, Green asked for all board members, including recently appointed board chair Todd Apo, to resign. As of July 2, they have all done so. It is expected that the governor will appoint new board members as the next step in his plan for a fresh start.
A lot has changed at the Hawaii Tourism Authority in a few short months. Following the March departure of interim president and CEO Daniel Nahoopii and board chair Mufi Hannemann, a bill introduced in the legislature, which would restructure HTA, advanced.
Senate Bill 1571 passed the house and senate in May and was signed by Hawaii Gov. Josh Green into law as Act 132 on May 29. Some of the changes to Hawaii Tourism Authority's structure include stripping the board of its power, by changing it from "a policymaking" board to an "advisory board of directors." The director of the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism has been removed as a member of the board; and the new law allows the House speaker and Senate president to appoint a member.
The board still has the ability to hire and fire its CEO, but the governor must approve the appointment "subject to the advice and consent of the Senate." The president and CEO also reports to the governor, according to the bill's text.
