Message from Our Deputy Director

Message from our Deputy DirectorMessage fr om our Deputy Director

When the general public thinks of the State of Hawai‘i Department of Transportation (HDOT), I’d imagine that highways, airports, and commercial harbors immediately come to mind. Little do the public, as well as state employees, realize that HDOT, through its Director Jade Butay (or designee), actively participates on and/or works with numerous boards, commissions, committees, and authorities that cover a broad range of policy areas.

Besides all of the HDOTspecifi c meetings that Director Butay, his designees, or I attend, more than 20% of our work time is consumed by preparing for and participating in a variety of board, commission, or committee meetings such as:

• Honolulu Board of Water Supply • Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation • Hawaiʻi Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission • Hawai’i Green Growth • Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization • Maui Metropolitan Planning Organization • Hawai’i Broadband Assistance Advisory Council • Law Enforcement Standards Board • Hawai’i Judiciary Financial Hardship Task Force • Hawai’i Community Development Association • Hawai’i State Emergency Response Commission • Statewide Communication Interoperability Plan • U.S. Travel Association • Hawai’i Interagency Council for Transit-Oriented Development • Greenhouse Gas Sequestration Task Force • Sustainable Transportation Forum • Emergency Medical Services Advisory Committee • Hawai’i Wing Civilian Air Patrol Advisory Board

Director Butay’s or his designee’s active participation provides opportunities for HDOT to work collaboratively with other community leaders and groups to make our community a stronger, more vibrant place.

A good example is our department’s involvement with the Endangered Species Recovery Committee in holding site visits for the Kauai Seabird Habitat Conservation Plan this month. Through the Plan, we hope to avoid and minimize take impacts to the ‘a’o, ‘ua’u, and ‘akē ‘akē birds caused by nighttime lighting on Kauai to the maximum extent practicable over the extentpracticableoverthe next 3 decades, as well as to enhance, protect and manage suitable seabird breeding habitat on the Garden Isle.

Another opportunity to work with other agencies is my representing DOT on the Hawai’i Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission. Back in May, I was asked to chair the commission’s permitted interaction group to help transform State and county fl eets to address vehicle miles travelled reduction, congestion, and emissions—especially through electrifi cation, renewable fuels, carshare, and supporting infrastructure development and deployment. We are hopeful various departments will commit to an ambitious goal of acquiring zero emission vehicles to replace aging gas-powered light duty vehicles over the next year.

For more information or if you have any questions regarding any of the above-listed boards or commissions, please do not hesitate to contact me.