The Hawai'i County Board of Ethics has found that Big Island Councilwoman Emily Naeole violated the county's ethics code.

The board voted 4-1 in deciding it was wrong of Naeole to make thumbs-down gestures to people she disagreed with while they testified about a proposed council reorganization.

Board chairman John Dill said Naeole showed a lack of respect for the system she is part of. He said her gestures discourage people from being a part of the process.

Several witnesses said Naeole made the gesture to speakers opposing her being made vice chairwoman of the council.

Naeole told the board she doesn't remember making the gestures. If she did make them, Naeole said, it meant she disagreed with what the speakers were saying.