STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1337

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    GOV. MSG. NO. 279

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Transportation and International Affairs, to which was referred Governor's Message No. 279, submitting for study and consideration the nomination of: 

 

Director of the Department of Transportation

 

G.M. No. 279

BARRY A. FUKUNAGA,

for a term to expire 12-6-2010,

 

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nominee from the Harbors Division of the Department of Transportation; Airport Division of the Department of Transportation; Department of Defense; Aloha Tower Development Corporation; United Public Workers; Airport Concessionaires Committee; American Society of Civil Engineers; Hawai‘i Ship Agents Association; Aloha Cargo Transport; Hawai‘i Transportation Association; Hawai‘i Superferry; Horizon Lines; Coalition of Hawai‘i Engineering & Architectural Professionals; kya design group; Young Brothers; McCabe, Hamilton & Renny Co., Ltd.; PLA Incorporated; Hawaiian Dredging Construction Company; Hawai‘i Public Policy Advocates, LLC; KFC Airport, Inc.; Matson Navigation Company; Hawai‘i Bicycling League; Hawai‘i Ship Agents Association; Maui County Farm Bureau; Hawai‘i Farm Bureau; Imperium Hawai‘i; Hawai‘i Stevedores, Inc.; Watanabe Ing & Kawashima; Airlines Committee of Hawai‘i; Aloha Airlines; Cement and Concrete Products Industry of Hawai‘i; Hawai‘i Firefighters Association; a State Representative; and seven individuals. 

 

     Barry Fukunaga is currently serving as an interim appointment as the Director of the Department of Transportation, effective January 5, 2007.  From September 2004 to January 2007, he served as the Deputy Director, Harbors Division, Department of Transportation, where he managed Hawai‘i's commercial harbors system, comprised of ten commercial harbors located on O‘ahu, Kaua‘i, Maui, Moloka‘i, Lana‘i, and Hawai‘i.

 

     Previously, Mr. Fukunaga served as the Director of the Department of Enterprise Services for the City and County of Honolulu, where he administered and managed the Neal S. Blaisdell Center, Waikiki Shell, Honolulu Zoo, and various golf courses.  Prior to that, he served as Deputy Director of the Honolulu Department of Environmental Services, where he was responsible for wastewater treatment facilities, solid refuse collection, and disposal functions, and other programs.

 

     In addition, Mr. Fukunaga has served in various capacities in the past twenty-five years with the Department of Transportation as airports manager, airports operations manager, and airports services supervisor.  He received a Masters' Degree in Public Administration and a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from the University of Hawai‘i.  Mr. Fukunaga is a former U.S. Air Force pilot.

 

     Although not educated or trained in the technical field of engineering, Mr. Fukunaga has effectively involved himself in managerial roles dealing with engineering work, as well as planning, design, and construction activities associated with capital improvement projects.  Exerting a great degree of effort throughout his government career, he has acquainted and familiarized himself with technical issues from the standpoint of becoming a better, more effective manager.  He has the knowledge, awareness, and understanding of capital improvement project requirements.  More particularly, your Committee was satisfied with Mr. Fukunaga's long-range master plans for highways, harbors, and airports.

 

     Your Committee notes the nominee's testimony that he will focus on the implementation of improvements that have been long sought but subject to continuing delay.  There are major highway projects underway to address and alleviate congestion.  There is a major modernization program to upgrade airport terminal facilities.  The Department of Transportation (DOT) has begun the process of relocating tenants for the development of the new container terminal at Honolulu Harbor and will be pursuing improvements at Kahului, Kawaihae, and Hilo Harbors, by finalizing the major planning and the initial development stages for improvements.  This will set the stage for completion by subsequent administrations of the major initiatives.

 

     More specifically, with regard to the Hawai‘i Superferry, Mr. Fukunaga stated that, as the DOT is currently undertaking an environmental impact statement (EIS) process for the Kahului Harbor master plan, which includes Hawai‘i Superferry.  With regard to his decision that an EIS was not required for the Hawai‘i Superferry two years ago, he stated that he based his decision on the facts and information he had before him and consulted with others in the DOT, including the then director, to arrive at a mutually agreed upon decision.

 

     Mr. Fukunaga also plans to establish an environmental planning unit in the DOT to guide major DOT projects in order to facilitate greater environmental considerations into planning and construction of projects. 

 

     With regard to his autonomy, Mr. Fukunaga stated that he would not relinquish his decision-making authority to the Governor, but in case of a difference of opinion, the Governor makes the ultimate decision.  Nonetheless, he assured your Committee that he would explain his views to the Governor and would rely upon his deputies in the DOT to make recommendations in any decision. 

 

     Mr. Fukunaga's guiding vision as Director of Transportation is to recognize a sense of urgency in the way the DOT does its work; to be open and communicative to the public concerning DOT projects; to deliver DOT projects sooner and to do them well; to strive for excellence in the work of the DOT; and to give professional support to DOT employees.

 

     Your Committee believes that the nominee's vast experience in all aspects of transportation; his managerial experience and education; unanimous support from testifiers; ready responses to legislators inquiries; and provision of complete information to the Legislature, qualifies him to be the Director of Transportation.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation and International Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee, after full consideration of the background, experience, and qualifications of the nominee, has found the nominee to be qualified for the position to which nominated and recommends that the Senate advise and consent to the nomination.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Transportation and International Affairs,

 

 

 

____________________________

J. KALANI ENGLISH, Chair