Former Hawai'i Tourism Authority chief Rex Johnson will receive more than $291,000 in severance and vacation pay as the result of a negotiated settlement with the HTA board.

The board today released the terms of an amended employment agreement with Johnson, who was forced to resign on Oct. 8 after it was discovered that he had used his state computer to forward pornographic, racist and sexist e-mails. Johnson had 10 months remaining on his contract and board members had to decide how much severance pay he would receive.

The HTA board said it would honor the terms of the contract and pay Johnson the balance owed to him through Aug. 20, 2009. He will receive nearly $10,000 a week, or $208,181, plus 722 hours of unused vacation, which will be paid at a rate of $115.38 an hour, or $83,304.