The Hawai'i Tourism Authority next week will begin the search to replace embattled president and CEO Rex Johnson, who resigned Wednesday after coming under criticism for forwarding jokes that included sexist, racist and X-rated materials from his state computer.

The agency's administrative standing committee is scheduled to meet at 1 p.m. Thursday to talk about terms and conditions for the interim president and chief executive officer — longtime staffer Lloyd Unebasami — and a search for a permanent replacement.

Hawai'i Tourism Authority board chairman Kelvin Bloom yesterday declined to provide any details of what Johnson's severance package would be or how long he will be paid after leaving the job immediately upon his resignation.

But Bloom said he expects the agency will release that information next week.

"Those arrangements are being finalized," Bloom said.

State staff and many tourism officials praised Johnson's work record and dismissed the e-mails as poor judgment but not an indication of bad character. Gov. Linda Lingle and some others in the community called for his ouster, saying that the e-mails taint his position as a representative of the state's No. 1 — but now-faltering — visitor industry.

Bloom said the search will start with the administrative committee, which consists of him and the two other board members: Doug Kahikina Chang and Sharon Weiner.

"Our desire is to fill that position as quickly as possible," but make sure they have the right person for the job, he said.

Bloom said the full search committee could include other board members and even members of the community.

He said he couldn't detail the timeline, selection process, qualifications and salary range until they meet.

The search could consider people from outside of Hawai'i, Bloom said. However, "we have a number of qualified individuals within the state; our priority would be to look within first," he said.