HONOLULU — Gov. Josh Green announced Friday his selection of former Kaua‘i state Rep. James “Jimmy” Kunane Tokioka as the new Director of the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism after the Legislature shot down his first nominee for the role.
The DBEDT director is one of the most important cabinet positions, overseeing more than 300 employees within the department and its attached agencies, which include the Hawai‘i Housing Finance and Development Corporation and the Hawaii Tourism Authority.
”Director Tokioka is stepping up to help move forward important priorities for the state,” said Green. “He will immediately hit the ground running and foster collaboration amongst the various attached agencies at DBEDT.”
Green’s initial nominee Chris Sadayasu faced stiff opposition during the confirmation process, with senators grilling him on budget proposals and his absences from meetings. His appointment was rejected in a 15-8 vote this March.
Tokioka’s appointment also remains subject to Senate approval, though it is unclear whether the Senate will vote on it in a special session or at the start of next year’s legislative session in January 2024.
“I came from the Legislature, so I’ve worked with a lot of the legislators over the years. I feel confident in the trust that they have with me, and I will continue to work with them to continue to gain their trust,” Tokioka told The Garden Island on the confirmation process.
Tokioka began his career as a busboy on Kaua‘i before eventually becoming a hotel manager on the mainland. In 1996, he was elected to the Kaua‘i County Council as a Republican before switching party affiliation and winning his statehouse seat in 2006.
He held that role until December 2022, when Gov. Green appointed him as the Airports Division Deputy of the Department of Transportation.
Tokioka said that prioritizing destination management would be important for him as DBEDT director. The issue has been a focus of the Legislature this session in discussions over the fate of the DBEDT-attached Hawai‘i Tourism Authority. The state budget slashed funding for the agency, and a bill that would have eliminated the agency entirely was deferred at the last minute.
“It was clear that legislators want to see more destination management funding and less brand funding,” said Tokioka. “They thought ‘Hawai‘i is a brand, and we don’t have to spend millions of dollars trying to brand it.’ Managing the destinations when tourists get here, was a key priority for many of the stakeholders at the state capitol.”
The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation announced Friday that Ford Fuchigami will replace Tokioka as deputy director for airports.
•••
Guthrie Scrimgeour, reporter, can be reached at 808-647-0329 or gscrimgeour@thegardenisland.com.
