Neil Takekawa resigned as president of Roberts Hawaii, a family-run, Honolulu-based tour operator.
Takekawa stepped down on July 29 to take a position as vice president of sales and marketing at Hawaii Superferry. Roberts Hawaii is currently undergoing a search to replace Takekawa.
A spokesman for the company also confirmed that on July 3, Roberts Hawaii laid off 10 employees due to tourism softness in Hawaii. The company currently has a staff of nearly 1,400.
In June 2007, Roberts Hawaii transferred 43.5% of the company to its employees in the form of an employee stock ownership plan. Under the plan, CEO Robert Iwamoto Jr. and his partners, most of whom are family members, ceded partial ownership to the employees.
When employees leave the company or retire, they can sell their share back to the company. However, payment can only be made after the ESOP loan is fully paid, which will be in five years.
Iwamoto's father, Robert Iwamoto Sr., founded Roberts Hawaii in 1941. Today, the company operates diverse services on Hawaii's four largest islands, including tours and transportation.