Former county public works employee sues Hawaii County for discrimination

Former Hawaii County Department of Public Works employee Julann Sonomura is suing the county, alleging gender discrimination and mistreatment inside one of the Big Island’s most important departments. The case shifts attention from a private workplace dispute to county government, where supervisors, hiring practices and complaint handling can carry costs for taxpayers and consequences for current workers.

Sonomura’s name also appeared in Hawaii County Board of Ethics minutes dated May 8, 2024, where she was identified as “Ms. Sonomura: Julann Sonomura, Building Chief” during continued review of a petition alleging county employees violated the Hawaii County Ethics Code. The minutes do not spell out the outcome of that review, but they show her name was already tied to a separate county ethics proceeding before the lawsuit surfaced.

Public Works has formal complaint channels of its own. The department publishes an Information & Complaint Form and lists a Hilo office at 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 7, with phone number (808) 961-8321, fax (808) 961-8630 and the email public_works@hawaiicounty.gov. Those contact points matter in a case centered on how county employees are treated and how grievances move through the system.

The lawsuit lands at a time when Public Works has already faced other signs of institutional strain. In June 2022, the county announced that Ikaika Rodenhurst was no longer serving as Public Works director after a leadership shakeup. More recently, the Hawaii County Office of the County Auditor issued a report on April 30, 2025, titled Department of Public Works Building Permit Process, adding another layer of public scrutiny to how the department operates.

For county workers, the case raises questions about supervision, internal accountability and whether discrimination complaints are handled consistently. For taxpayers, it raises the prospect of legal expenses and the possibility that internal workplace problems could spill into public litigation. Because Public Works oversees infrastructure, roads, construction oversight and permit-related functions that affect daily life across the island, disputes inside the department can reverberate well beyond one personnel case.

The county has not turned over this dispute to a private employer or an outside institution. It is a county matter, involving county records, county leadership and county procedures. As the case moves forward, the key issue for Big Island residents will be whether Hawaii County can show that its workplace systems are fair, enforceable and credible enough to withstand public scrutiny.