STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2542

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    GOV. MSG. NO. 504

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Transportation and Energy, to which was referred Governor's Message No. 504, submitting for study and consideration the nomination of: 

 

Director of the Department of Transportation

 

G.M. No. 504

JADE BUTAY,

for a term to expire at noon on 12-03-2018,

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Your Committee reviewed the personal history, resume, and statement submitted by Jade Butay for service as the Director of Transportation.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Jade Butay from Governor David Y. Ige; Department of Defense; Department of Transportation Harbors Division; Department of Land and Natural Resources; Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Department of Accounting and General Services; Department of Budget and Finance; Department of Labor and Industrial Relations; State Procurement Office; Hawaii Tourism Authority; Board of Water Supply; Kauai Filipino Chamber of Commerce; Hawaii Harbors Users Group; Pasha Group; Pacific Shipyards International; McCabe, Hamilton, and Renny Co., Ltd.; Hawaii Transportation Association; Airlines Committee of Hawaii; Hawaii Labors-Employers Cooperation and Education Trust; United Public Workers, Local 646, AFL-CIO; Filipino American Citizens League; Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii; Hawaii Friends of Civil Rights; Radcliffe and Associates, LLC; Capitol Consultants of Hawaii, LLP; SanHi Government Strategies; Airports Concessionaires Committee; Matson; Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Association; Hawaiian Airlines; General Contractors Association of Hawaii; Young Brothers; Imanaka Asato, LLLC; Cebuano Association of Hawaii, Inc.; Filipina Advocacy Network; Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, Ltd.; Filipino Coalition for Solidarity; Saltchuk Hawaii; Filipinos for Affirmative Action; and thirty-one individuals.

 

     Jade Butay is currently the Interim Director of Transportation, a position he has held since November 2017.  From January 2015 to his nomination as Interim Director, Mr. Butay served as the Deputy Director of Administration at the Department of Transportation, a position he also held from 2011 to 2013.  Between his years of service with the Department of Transportation, Mr. Butay served as the Deputy Director of the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations.  He also worked as a management consultant for twelve years.  The nominee received a Masters in Business Administration from Babson College and a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa.

 

     Your Committee believes that the nominee possesses the qualifications to serve as Director of Transportation.  His years as Deputy Director of Transportation have given him extensive knowledge of the Department's procedures and current projects, which will help provide continuity at the Department.  Testifiers attest to the nominee's professionalism, integrity, diligence, and strong communication skills.  His collaborative and cooperative nature will continue to serve Mr. Butay well as Director of Transportation as he leads the Department in building and improving the State's transportation infrastructure.

 

     In addition to his professional background, numerous testifiers also mentioned the nominee's contributions back to his community.  Over the years, the nominee has worked on projects related to equal access to higher education for minorities; language access issues; and other civil right issues.  He has also served as a mentor and role model for students seeking higher education and to many young professionals.

 

     Your Committee notes the nominee's vision for the Department of Transportation is to build and improve the State's transportation infrastructure to keep the traveling public safe and secure, increase their mobility, and have the transportation system contribute to the State's economic growth.  Mr. Butay will work to avoid conflicting and confusing lines of authority by focusing on fostering an environment of mutual respect and open communication, identifying problems and issues before they get out of control, and working together to seek appropriate consensus on major decisions and policies.  His budgetary priorities include improving infrastructure, modernizing facilities, promoting revenue enhancements, ensuring compliance with environmental and security requirements, and leveraging federal monies.  In particular, Mr. Butay would like to see investment in automated control kiosks and additional visitor information program assistants at the airport, modernization at the airports and harbors, and development of two new offices in the Department - the Intelligent Transportation Systems Office and the Office of Law Enforcement and Security.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation and Energy 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 Energy,

 

 

 

____________________________

LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair