Attorney passed over
for return to HTA boardLingle wants board members
to have tourism experience,
a spokesman says
A land-use attorney who was named to the board of the Hawaii Tourism Authority by Democrat Gov. Ben Cayetano is not being rehired by Republican Gov. Linda Lingle, who said she is seeking people with experience in tourism.
Benjamin A. Kudo, chief financial officer and director of Honolulu law firm Imanaka Kudo & Fujimoto, was appointed on an interim basis and his term expired yesterday. Lingle declined to appoint Kudo on a permanent basis and said she is seeking someone else for the position on the 15-member board.
"What she's indicated before is that she is looking to put more people on HTA who have hands-on industry experience," said Lingle spokesman Russell Pang. "All due respect to Mr. Kudo, she's looking to find more people with hands-on industry experience."
The authority's chairman, Mike McCartney, also does not have direct experience in tourism. McCartney rose through the ranks of the Hawaii State Teachers Association, served as clerk to then-state Sen. Charles Toguchi, became a senator himself, and is currently serving as president and chief executive of PBS Hawaii. McCartney said his term with the authority ends June 2004.
Cayetano told McCartney he wanted people on the authority's board who had vision and who weren't necessarily from the tourism industry, McCartney said. Other appointments by Cayetano to the tourism board include Larry Johnson, former chairman and chief executive of the parent of Bank of Hawaii.
McCartney said he was aware of Lingle's policy change. Lingle hasn't indicated whether she will reappoint him, he said.
Lingle recently named Kyoko Kimura, president and general manager of Diamond Resort Hawaii Corp., to replace David Gleason as the board's Maui representative. Gleason, general manager of The Dunes at Maui Lani Golf Course, stepped down before his term expired.
Twelve of the HTA board members are appointed from the public by the governor, but those 12 members must be confirmed by the Legislature. The board also has three ex officio members.
Lingle appointee Kimura was confirmed Tuesday.