Gov. Linda Lingle today called for the immediate resignation of Hawaii Tourism Authority CEO Rex Johnson.

Lingle said at a news conference that if Johnson doesn't resign the HTA board of directors should seek his ouster.

The call for Johnson's resignation comes on the same day The Honolulu Advertiser reported that Johnson swapped racist and sexist jokes via e-mail on his government computer.

"The e-mails are disgusting. It goes against the core of who we are," Lingle said.

HTA board vice-chair Sharon Weiner issued the following statement regarding Johnson:

"We deemed that he did indeed use his computer for inappropriate e-mails and we took action," the board said.

"Rex has apologized to us and to his staff and assured the board that he will not repeat his actions," the statement continued.

"With double-digit declines in our tourism economy, the board, Rex and his staff must focus on the job at hand: stemming tourism losses and revitalizing our sagging tourism economy."