Sugai chosen as
Kauai film commissioner

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By Tim Ryan
tryan@starbulletin.com

Tiffani Sugai, development and community relations officer for the Kauai Food Bank, is the new Kauai film commissioner.

Sugai is an 18-year Kauai resident with extensive experience in marketing and public relations, including as sales manager at the Radisson Kauai Beach Resort and promotions coordinator at radio station KONG. She also has worked with several TV productions.

Kauai Mayor Maryanne Kusaka and Gini Kapali, county economic development director, are in Japan but are scheduled to make the announcement next month. Sugai, 37, has worked at the food bank since January.

There were more than 20 mainland and Hawaii applicants for the $40,000-a-year job vacated in July by Judy Drosd, who had been Kauai commissioner for a decade.

Sugai's tenure could last only to Dec. 1 because a new mayor chosen during November's general election will decide whether to keep Sugai in the county-appointed position or make another appointment.

"I know I'll do a good enough job between now and December so that the new mayor will have to keep me," she said.

Sugai is married to a Kauai fireman and has three children. She lives in Kapaa.