Hawaii Tourism Authority CEO Rex Johnson, under fire for receiving and forwarding "adult-oriented" e-mails on his government computer, got a vote of support today from a majority of community members who submitted testimony to the HTA board.

The board, meeting in a special session to decide Johnson's employment fate, received at least 55 pieces of written testimony, only three of which were not in support of Johnson.

The board heard 30 minutes of oral testimony from nine witnesses in the public portion of its meeting before moving to executive session to discuss Johnson's fate behind closed doors.

One of the nine speaking in support of Johnson was former bank executive, community leader and former HTA member Larry Johnson.

Larry Johnson, who isn't related to the HTA chief executive, said he had not seen Rex Johnson since he left the board two years ago. With the tourism industry facing difficult times due to a slump in visitor arrivals, Larry Johnson said the agency should retain Rex Johnson.

"A change in leadership at this time is not only unhealthy, but unsound" he said.

The most prominent testimony questioning Johnson came from Keith Vieira, senior vice president and director of operations for Starwood Hotels & Resorts in Hawai'i and French Polynesia.

Vieira wrote: "The HTA Board need to make their decision based on what is right relative to the situation, not what is good for the industry." He added, "the industry will survive fine, there is a good team on the ground and I believe we can find the appropriate leadership later."