The board of the Hawaii Tourism Authority tonight said it hopes to reach a decision soon on the future of HTA President Rex Johnson, who has admitted receiving and sending adult-oriented e-mails on his state computer.

Following a 6 1/2-hour meeting today, board chairman Kelvin Bloom declined to say what Johnson's employment status will be or what the deciding factor will be.

"Our preference would be to resolve the matter fully within days," Bloom said.

"The matter is still under consideration but we hope to have resolution on the matter shortly." He said board members today were fully vetting and discussing Rex Johnson's employment agreement.

Johnson's e-mails were discovered by the state auditor as part of an ongoing investigation of the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism and an audit of the HTA's major contractors.

Nine people spoke in favor of keeping Johnson, the agency's president and CEO. The board also received 55 pieces of written testimony.