[2] He currently serves as the Director of the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism of Hawaiʻi in the cabinet of Governor Josh Green.

[4] When Democratic Representative Ezra Kanoho retired in 2006 and left the District 15 seat open, Tokioka won the September 26, 2006 Democratic Primary with 2,965 votes (53.4%),[5] and won the November 7, 2006 General election with 4,280 votes (56.1%) against Republican nominee Ron Agor.

[16] Meanwhile, the Hawaiian legislation was deferred for a year when it encountered competition from Senator Glenn Wakai's SB3124 proposing Aliivibrio fischeri.

[19][20][21] The details of the official investigation reveal James Tokioka would have received a felony charge if he didn't make a plea deal.

[22][23] Tokioka was reelected to a two-year term in the 2022 Hawaiʻi House of Representatives election, but resigned on January 2, 2023 to accept an appointment as Director of the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism in Governor Josh Green's cabinet.