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In February 2014, the head of Hawaii's Department of Land and Natural Resources accused Hanohano of making racist and abusive remarks towards her staff. "One of my staff was accused of genocide and that's a very serious charge. We don't think the actions the department takes comes anywhere near genocide. (It was) very uncomfortable," said William Alia. Alia also alleged that Hanohano spoke down in Hawaiian to staff members who could not speak the language and lashed out at two Caucasian staffers as "malihinis," or newcomers. Hanohano was forced to apologize in 2013 after using racial slurs in a rant about art work being installed in her office and a legislative committee is already reviewing abusing remarks made to a college student testifying before her committee. Fellow legislators speaking off the record to a news source said that they were embarrassed by Hanohano's behavior and were considering options such as censure or even stripping her of her position as Chair of the Ocean, Marine Resources, & Hawaiian Affairs Committee.
