State research park in Kona fires science/tech manager
Advertiser Staff
Tom Daniel, the science and technical program manager for the state-run Big Island research park Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority, was fired Wednesday after 20 years on the job following a dispute with his supervisor.
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Daniel was dismissed by Jeff Smith, executive director of NELHA, who said he had "lost confidence" in Daniel, according to an official termination letter dated Feb. 19.
The Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority runs a research park in Kona that centers around the world's largest and deepest ocean-water pipelines.
Daniel, who described his firing as the result of a personality conflict with Smith, was given several weeks to appeal his termination to the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.
DBEDT eventually sided with Smith, who in his letter said Daniel botched contracts and invoices and committed a paperwork error in 1998 that resulted in NELHA's being fined $100,000. Daniel admitted the error but disputed what Smith said were the other grounds for termination.
Neither Smith nor DBEDT deputy director Ray Jefferson, who handled Daniel's appeal, returned phone calls requesting comment yesterday afternoon.
The Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority runs a research park in Kona that centers around the world's largest and deepest ocean-water pipelines, which bring cold water to the surface.
NELHA has about 30 tenant companies performing scientific research and developing commercial products.
Daniel, 60, is a Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduate with a doctorate's degree in oceanography from the University of Hawai'i. An employee of NELHA since 1982, he was science manager since 1990, helping deploy the pipeline system.
