Hawaii' s governor, Linda Lingle, is defending cuts in the government budget for a women's commission.
A spokesman for the governor says there were 5-percent cuts across the board for all agencies, exempting those in health, safety and education.
The Commission on the Status of Women had their budget of close to 100-thousand US dollars, halved, which will force the state agency to raise funds privately.
The announcement resulted in resignations by a commissioner, Kalei Kanuha, and the executive director, Allicyn Tasaka.
The governor's office says the budget cuts are in line with a six year budget plan.
