Not Anonymous: Employees Demand ‘Investigation’ of DoTax Director Suganuma

by Andrew Walden

With Josh Green considering his cabinet appointments for a second term, top level DoTax employees, in a September 24, 2025 letter to the Governor, are demanding an ‘independent investigation’ of DoTax Director Gary Suganuma. 

Amazingly, the letter is not anonymous.

Signed by Min Meng, DoTax Administrative Services officer, and backed by a signed affidavit from Virginia Kemmerlin, DoTax Human resources officer, the complaint explains: “To cooperate with this investigation, we have dozens of witnesses, hundreds of emails (in the nature of hostility, threats, and workplace violence), and relevant documents and recordings available and ready.”

The letter is copied to the Legislature, Suganuma himself, and HGEA.  A copy of the letter was forwarded to HawaiiFreePress.com.

Variations on the word “mental” occur 32 times in the 49 page complaint; “psychiatrist,” six times.

The letter describes a six-month project to rearrange parking assignments:

DS decided to conduct a Department-wide parking audit. To reach this goal, a luxury task force was formed including Director of Taxation, Deputy Director, Administrative Services Officer, Human Resources Officer, Human Resources Specialist, and Administrative Assistant (Parking Coordinator). I told Ms. Singson to be prepared since DS was surely going to do some “serious business” about this project.

At the initial meeting, only after reviewing the current parking wait list, DS was very harsh to Ms. Singson and accused her “having made a lot of mistakes,” and told her to “admit all mistakes by letting all DOTAX employees know” and “apologize to all employees for the mistakes.” Although I gave Ms. Singson a heads-up about DS’ bullying styles prior to the meeting, it was still too much for Ms. Singson to take. She tried to explain, but DS wouldn’t even let her finish a single sentence, then Ms. Singson was about to faint, so I asked DS for a recess, so I could walk Ms. Singson back to her office.

During the project, we also found out another personal reason that DS was determined to do this. Several times, at our group meeting, DS mentioned that he was not “fairly treated” regarding the parking matter from his previous employer AG, therefore, as the Director of Taxation, it’s his duty, priority, and even honor to bring the “parking justice” to all DOTAX employees….

After six (6) months, hundreds of emails, dozens of meetings, through research, and more than one hundred (100) staff hours, the six-people task force finally completed the project and agreed on the results….

According to the audit results, there were a few discrepancies occurred due to missing documents and/or incomplete applications, and the action needed to address those discrepancies was to switch parking locations among three (3) employees….

According to the complaint, Suganuma had security cameras installed throughout the interior of DoTax offices.  Here are some excerpts:

“After the security cameras were installed, some employees raised the concerns to their union HGEA, instead of feeling safer, they feel being recorded and monitored even though the cameras are all in public space. Since we share the building with DLIR, some of their employees feel the same way and have reported it to HGEA as well.” ...

“Some male staff even have to go to restrooms on other floors just to avoid running into him.” ...

“DS does have “eyes and ears everywhere.” One morning Ms. Inouye called me asking some questions, I answered but she was still confused, so I asked her to come to my office so I could explain better in person, then she came, and we talked for about ten (10) minutes, and then she went back to her office. Less than one (1) minute after Ms. Inouye left, my phone rang and I answered, it was DS. He sounded upset and anxious, he said, xxx (Ms. Inouye) just went to see you, before that, she talked to xxx (the former Director) on the phone, what did you guys talk about, who initiated this meeting, etc.” ...

The complaint argues:

“Director Suganuma always gets personal about business, when someone presents a different opinion, he gets mad right away and feels that the person is challenging and undermining him and his authority. When he gets angry, which occurs very often, he has hard time in controlling himself, yelling, cursing, swearing, finger-pointing, accusing, etc., and it has created a very hostile and toxic work environment for DOTAX staff, and this is a severe workplace violence.”

…

“DS has anger issues, and that is confirmed by many DOTAX employees (including some former employees). He is very sensitive and insecure, and he gets angry easily even over the minor matters, and when he gets angry, he gets more personal about everything, and any engagement other than agreeing with him is treated by him as challenge, offense, insult, and even sabotage. DS definitely needs to enroll in anger management programs, which will benefit him both professionally and personally.

“DS may have mental issues, and that is suspected by four (4) top DOTAX managers including myself and several other employees as well. DS has hard time in controlling his emotions, and we’ve seen more than enough about his mental/emotional unstable scenes and losing temper and snapping at employees on many different occasions.

“For example, at meetings, whenever he is not happy about anyone’s talk, he stops the person and starts his round of comment with anger, if the person engages, DS gets furious, raising voice or yelling, pointing his finger at the person, his body even starts trembling, and eyes getting red and eyeballs like going to burst out. People present are all worried that he may just faint or collapse.

“At first, we are shocked by DS’ behaviors like that, after we see and experience several times, we get used to it. And more importantly, we have figured out how to deal with his behaviors like that.  It’s like a seizure and could have multi times at a single meeting, all depends on DS’ mood at that time. When his “round” starts, we just stay put and let him finish his round, after that he calms down and all good, and then he starts smiling and talking nicely; later at the same meeting he may have another and even more “rounds” like that.

“That kind of mentality concerns us. DS may need to enroll in psychiatrist assessment and therapy to determine if he’s mentally fit for his current employment, or any employment.”

Suganuma responded to an inquiry from Hawai'i Free Press:  "As this pertains to confidential personnel matters, I am not able to provide any comment."

The Governor’s office said it "is reviewing the submittal and does not comment on personnel matters."

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PDF: Letter