Local civic leaders today renewed their calls for the resignation of Hawaii Tourism Authority CEO Rex Johnson.

Representatives with the local chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the Japanese American Citizens League of Hawaii, the African American Association of Hawaii, the Hawaii Women's Political Caucus and Girl Fest Hawaii also faulted the HTA board for not taking prompt action on the controversy.

Johnson came under fire for forwarding racist and sexist jokes to friends on his state computer.

"We cannot stand by and allow the Hawaii Tourism Authority to give credibility to what Mr. Johnson has been circulating," said Alphonso Braggs, the local NAACP branch president.

"We have lost confidence in his ability to objectively administer HTA's mission in an effective manner. We cannot accept such a person in a position of such great responsibility. I call on Mr. Johnson to resign his position effective immediately," Braggs said.

The discovery of the latest e-mails came after HTA's board last month cut his annual pay of $240,000 by $40,000 and reduce the length of his contract from four years to one year after 23 adult-oriented e-mails were found in his state computer.

Braggs said community leaders are prepared to hold a protest rally in Waikiki if Johnson is not removed by Sept. 27.