The Hawaii Tourism Authority, the state tourism agency, is kicking efforts into high gear to fill vacancies for nearly a third of its staff, including its top three leadership positions.
HTA, which has only 27 budgeted positions for fiscal year 2019, will soon be eight short of that count. The board’s decision in June to fire its current CEO and president, George Szigeti, could leave HTA rudderless at a time when the state’s tourism industry is coming into a rough patch after its nearly seven-year growth trajectory.
The Kilauea volcanic eruption has cut visitor arrivals to the Big Island and cost the visitor industry millions.
Szigeti, who was hired in May 2015 and was making $297,684 a year, won’t depart HTA until Oct. 31. But the agency already was grappling with the abrupt resignations of former Chief Operating Officer Randy Baldemor, who left in March, and former Chief Marketing Officer Leslie Dance, who left in May. Altogether at least 11 HTA staff members have left the organization since 2015.
Despite record-setting tourism arrivals and growth in non-inflation-adjusted spending, some key lawmakers were concerned about a February finding by the state auditor that the agency suffered from “lax oversight (and) deficient internal controls.”
Their concerns resulted in HTA getting a $13 million budget cut in May.
Still, Marc Togashi, HTA vice president of finance, said the agency has budgeted $4.17 million to cover administrative costs for 27 staff positions in fiscal year 2019. That’s up from $3.82 million for 24 positions in fiscal year 2018 and $3.44 million for 24 positions in fiscal year 2017, he said.
The agency also has agreed to pay Inkinen & Associates more than $48,000 to advertise the top three HTA vacancies: president and chief executive officer, chief administrative officer, and vice president of marketing and product. The staffing firm also is screening applicants, who must apply by the close of business Friday.
HTA is being tight-lipped about the number of applicants and the screening process. But some members of the visitor industry have suggested that Mufi Hannemann, Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association president and chief executive officer, and U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, who just ended a failed run for Hawaii governor, were likely to apply for the HTA president and CEO job. They’ve also speculated that former Lt. Gov. James “Duke” Aiona might apply.
Hannemann, Hanabusa and Aiona were among the agency’s top contenders for the position in 2015 but were passed over at the 11th hour when former HTA board member Lorrie Lee Stone recruited George Szigeti for the job. Hannemann said this week that he does not intend to apply for the position. Peter Boylan, Hanabusa’s director of commu- nications and government affairs, also said this week that “she has no interest.” Aiona said Friday that he’s “not at all interested in the job.”
Prior to Szigeti, the role was held by Gov. David Ige’s chief of staff, former state Sen. Mike McCartney. Before that the job was held by Rex Johnson, a longtime political appointee who resigned from HTA after he used a state-owned computer to forward pornographic, racist and sexist emails to his friends.
Another name being discussed for either the No. 1 or No. 2 HTA position is state Rep. Issac Choy, who did not seek another term for District 23, which includes Manoa, Punahou and Moiliili. There also is state Sen. Brickwood Galuteria, who just lost the primary election. Choy recently defended HTA during a joint Senate and House audit review. Galuteria, who represents Waikiki, McCully and Kakaako, has long-standing visitor industry ties. Choy and Galuteria did not return a call from the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.
Other possible applicants include David Uchiyama, former HTA vice president of brand marketing, who was a contender for the president and CEO job when he got passed over for Szigeti. Shortly after taking office, Szigeti fired Uchiyama. Uchiyama did not return a call from the Star-Advertiser. Uchiyama was chief executive officer for Island Air until its November 2017 shutdown.
Another possible candidate is Douglas G. Murdock, who left his role as HTA’s vice president for administration and fiscal affairs to join Gov. David Ige’s Cabinet as comptroller. Murdock could not be reached for comment.
Correction: An earlier version of this story said state Sen. Donna Mercado Kim helped recruit Hawaii Tourism Authority president and chief executive officer George Szigeti. Kim said she was not involved in his recruitment.
