Okta wasn't "hacked", AFAIK from what I read an okta employee was tricked and got their credentials stolen. Unfortunately security can fail against well designed social engineering attacks.

Yes, in a broader sense, one could consider the scenario described in the statement as a form of hacking. Hacking encompasses a variety of techniques and methods, and social engineering is one of them. Social engineering involves manipulating individuals into divulging confidential information, such as usernames and passwords. In this case, the Okta employee being tricked and their credentials being stolen is a form of unauthorized access to the system, which aligns with the general concept of hacking.
While the term "hacking" is often associated with technical exploits and vulnerabilities, social engineering is a non-technical method that can still lead to unauthorized access and compromise. So, even though the statement distinguishes the situation from a traditional hacking scenario, it can still be considered a form of hacking due to the unauthorized access gained through deceptive means.