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Board of Directors

HART is governed by a Board of Directors comprised by ten members appointed by Charter and four legislative appointees. They include local officials, business leaders, subject matter specialists and advocates.

Meet our Board Members

Colleen HanabusaColleen Hanabusa is a returning member to the HART Board. She served from July 1, 2015 to October 2016, a portion of that time as the Chair of the HART Board. She was elected by the voters of the First Congressional District to serve in the remainder of the 114th and the 115th Congress of the United States. Colleen also served in the Hawai`i State Legislature, where she was the President of the Senate, the first woman to lead either chamber in Hawai`i; and the first Asian woman to lead any Legislative Chamber in this country. She also served in the 112th and 113th Congresses of the United States. For all the time Colleen was in Congress, she served on the House Armed Services Committee and the Committee on Natural Resources with specific duties as ranking member of the Subcommittee on Indian and Alaskan Native Affairs and Public Lands. In addition to her other committee assignments, upon her return to the 115th Congress, she served on now Speaker Pelosi’s Leadership Team, a member of the Policy Steering Committee and the Science Space and Technology Committee. Ms. Hanabusa is also an attorney who has earned numerous awards and recognitions. She is now practicing law and has taught a class at the UH Law School and the Political Science Department at UH Manoa. She holds the distinction of being the only member of the Board of Directors of HART that has signed the ceremonial Full Funding Grant Agreement with the FTA in December 2012. Ms. Hanabusa has also represented the Legislature as their attorney on an Amicus Brief filed with the Hawai`i Supreme Court.

Appointing Authority: Mayor
Term: 7/1/2021 – 6/30/2026

Kika BukoskiKika has spent the last twenty-three years in and around local, state, and federal politics as a former State Representative, former Executive Director for the Hawaii Building and Construction Trades Council, AFL-CIO, former public policy advocate for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and current Director of Government and Community Affairs for the Plumbers and Pipefitters, Local 675. He has previously served on the City and County of Honolulu Board of Appeals, Stadium Authority, State Procurement Code Review Task Force, State Charter School Review Panel, and Maui County Board of Ethics.

Kikaʻs prior professional career also included mid to senior-executive level positions with companies in some of Hawai`iʻs major industries including the Hyatt and Hilton Hotels, Matson Terminals, Inc., Meadow Gold Dairies, American Hawaii Cruises, Robertʻs Hawaii, and Browning Ferris Industries. He also served as the Managing Partner of a local waste management firm, the Principal of his own professional employer organization (PEO) outsourcing firm as well as several small businesses, and has been a licensed private detective since 2004.

Kika considers himself to be unconventional, a life-learner, and a staunch-believer in doing whatʻs right. Kika is a graduate of the Kamehameha Schools and attended the University of Hawai`i at Manoa and Hawai`i Pacific University, and completed his undergraduate degree in Business Administration at age 32 by attending night school while raising his two children as a single father on the island of Maui.

Kika understands the tremendous gravity of his role at HART, but also sees the tremendous benefit HART can offer the community at-large. He looks forward to contributing to, and supporting the efforts of HART while mindfully keeping the public’s trust and best interest at the core of all decisions. `A`ohe hana nui ke alu`ia ~ No task is too big if done together by all.

Appointing Authority: City Council
Term: 09/09/2020 – 06/30/2024

Anthony AaltoAnthony Aalto is a British-born American documentary filmmaker and investigative journalist. He has reported from more than two-dozen countries around the world under the byline of Tony Jenkins, including stints as a war correspondent for The Guardian and The BBC. He’s a former Fellow of the Center for International Policy, twice elected president of the United Nations Correspondents Association, and for several years hosted a current affairs talk show broadcast on CNBC. He’s the co-founder and producer-partner of the Honolulu-based, award-winning documentary film company Green Island Films. Their first movie, Railroading Paradise, documented the early fight over the HART project, the rationale advanced by supporters, and the arguments of opponents. The film premiered at the Hawaii International Film Festival in 2013. Their next film, No Room In Paradise, about Hawaii’s homeless crisis was Emmy-nominated, broadcast nationally on PBS and led to significant policy impacts in Hawaii. Their most recent project, a trilogy of documentaries called A Climate For Change has enjoyed extensive broadcast runs on Hawaii News Now and has thus far garnered over a million views in Hawaii. Anthony served as Chair of the O‘ahu Group of the Sierra Club from 2012 to 2018. He is anxious to ensure that the HART project meets its goals to improve social equity, stimulate affordable, transit-oriented development and boost O’ahu’s resilience to disaster.

Appointing Authority: City Council
Term: 8/11/21 – 6/30/26

Dawn is the Director of the City & County of Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting (DPP). Prior to that, she served as the Deputy Director of DPP. Previously, she served as a Deputy Corporation Counsel for DPP, Chief Planner for the Hawaii Public Housing Authority, and Deputy Attorney General for the State Office of Planning. Dawn completed her undergraduate degree and a M.A. in Urban Planning at University of California, Los Angeles. She also holds a J.D. from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law.

Appointing Authority: Ex Officio Pursuant to the Revised Charter on the City and County of Honolulu
Term: End of appointment

Michele BrunngraberMs. Brunngraber is an executive acquisition and strategic leader with nearly 35 years of experience in the Intelligence Community. She has an extensive background in the full life-cycle development, procurement, and operations of multi-billion dollar national programs.  Michele retired from the CIA Senior Intelligence Service after a distinguished 30-year career. She is a recognized expert in government-industry contracting and strategic leadership and is COO of Nous Consulting. She has a BS in Electrical Engineering from the Rochester Institute of Technology and an MS in National Security Strategy from the National War College.

Appointing Authority: Mayor
Term: 01/01/2019 – End of term

Natalie IwasaMs. Iwasa has over 25 years of experience in public accounting and is a CPA and Certified Fraud Examiner. She specializes in compliance work and accounting and consulting services for nonprofits and small businesses in the firm she established in 2003.

She has been active in the community on various boards and commissions, including the Hawaii Kai Neighborhood Board, Honolulu City Council Real Property Tax Advisory Commission, and the Stakeholder Advisory Committee for the Statewide Long-Range Land Transportation Plan.

Appointing Authority: Speaker of the House of Representatives
Term: 01/05/2021 – None Indicated

J. Roger MortonMr. Morton is serving as Director of the City and County of Honolulu, Department of Transportation Services (DTS). Mr. Morton is a transportation professional whose Hawaii career spans over 40 years. Prior to his appointment as DTS Director, Mr. Morton spent 15 years as President and General Manager of O‘ahu Transit Services, Inc., the operator of Honolulu’s TheBus and Handi-Van system. He is a graduate of Kalani High School and has an undergraduate BA degree specializing in Economics from York University in Toronto and a graduate MSc degree in Community and Regional Planning specializing in public transportation from the University of British Columbia. He has attended several executive management programs, including courses at Harvard, Carnegie-Mellon, and the ENO Center for Transportation.

DTS provides oversight over Honolulu’s multi-modal transportation system including TheBus, paratransit and Honolulu’s elevated rail system – the first driverless light metro system in the United States. DTS also has responsibility for municipal parking facilities and parking policy, the implementation of complete streets and other mobility options such as walking, bicycles, scooters, and ride sharing. DTS supports regional transportation planning and administration of federal and state transportation grants. The department prepares energy conservation and emissions reduction plans, collects transportation related usage fees, and identifies new sources of revenue for the multi-modal transportation system. DTS is also responsible for transportation and traffic engineering on City streets, the Island-wide traffic signal system and transportation technology. The department is a lead agency responsible for coordination and operation of Honolulu’s Joint Traffic Management Center, which is a multi-agency collaboration to improve traffic management and public safety coordination across O‘ahu.

Appointing Authority: Ex Officio Pursuant to the Revised Charter on the City and County of Honolulu
Term: End of appointment

Joseph O'Donnell

Mr. O’Donnell is serving as the Financial Secretary/Treasurer and Business Manager for the Ironworkers Union Local 625 and is a Trustee of all funds for the Hawaii Ironworkers Trust Fund. 

“Joe” is a former Member of the Hawaii State Commission for Community Service, former Chairman of the Honolulu Liquor Commission, currently a Member of the State of Hawaii Contractors Licensing Board, State of Hawaii HIOSH Advisory Committee and newly appointed Member of the HART Board.

Mr. O’Donnell has over 50 years of experience in the local Construction Industry and enjoys supporting local philanthropic activities for the community. 

Appointing Authority: Senate President
Term: 01/07/2021 – None Indicated

Edwin Sniffen

Ed Sniffen was appointed Director of the Hawai‘i Department of Transportation (HDOT) on Dec. 5, 2022, subject to Senate confirmation. As Director, Ed is responsible for State Transportation Infrastructure-Airports, Commercial Harbors, and Highways. As the Chief Executive for the Department, Ed’s goals are improving safety, preservation and upgrade of our transportation systems; ensuring efficiency and transparency in Departmental Operations, and pursuing opportunities and innovative strategies to leverage DOT resources and private partnerships to positively impact the highest goals of the State including Housing, Energy, Food Security, Education, and Climate Adaptation to improve the quality of life for our residents and the experiences of our visitors.

Appointing Authority: Ex Officio Pursuant to the Revised Charter on the City and County of Honolulu
Term: End of appointment

Arthur Tolentino

Arthur Tolentino is a Graduate of Leilehua High School, currently serving as the Business Manager/Financial Secretary-Treasurer for the Sheet, Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Worker Local Union 293 and is the 2nd General Vice-President for the International Union representing the United States and Canada.

“Art” identified early on in life that hard work and serving others were ways he would measure his success. He is a local boy with a public-school education, followed by certification in Instructor Training Course at the Ohio State University. His career began at a local company and upon becoming a certified Journeyman in Sheetmetal, he felt the need to give back to the industry and commenced a ten-year run as an instructor for the Hawaii Joint Apprenticeship Committee. From there, he served as a Steward and modified the curriculum to pave their way into the 21st century. He subsequently found his way to being a Labor Organizer and was later elected to be the President/Business Agent for his Local, thus eventually arriving at his current position as the Business Manager/Financial Secretary-Treasurer.

Art is currently serving as a Trustee for the National Energy Management Institute Committee (NEMIC) and is a former Commissioner of the Department of Planning and Permitting (OPP) for the City and County of Honolulu for the past 10 years. Previous to that, he served as a Trustee, Treasurer and Executive Board Member of the Hawaii Building & Construction Trades Council, AFL-CIO.

Mr. Tolentino comes with years of hands-on experience in the local Construction Industry and has promoted equitable wage & work conditions for his membership. He participates in annual community events that help the less fortunate and promotes keiki activities to keep them on track. His main objective is to elevate the quality of life for his members as well as all the working class.

Appointing Authority: Mayor
Term: 03/01/2022 – 06/30/2025

Edwin S. W. Young was born and raised in Hawaii. He graduated from the University of Hawaii, Manoa, and has an MBA from the University of Utah. He obtained a Master degree in Information Systems from the University of Southern California. After working in the private sector, he started his career in government with the U.S. Government Accountability Office. His federal service includes active duty in the U.S. Air Force, serving as an audit manager with the Air Force Audit Agency, working as a Foreign Service Specialist in the U.S. State Department Inspector General Office, assignments as a Division Director in the Naval Audit Service, Desk Officer in the Naval Audit Service headquarters, and Regional Inspector General for the Small Business Administration. After retiring from the U.S. Government, Edwin Young served as the Director of Internal Audit at the California State University – Fullerton before assuming employment as the Senior Auditor at the City of Palo Alto, California. After retiring, he was appointed City Auditor for the City and County of Honolulu. He currently serves on the Advisory Board for the University of Hawaii Manoa School of Accountancy and holds certifications in the Institute of Internal Auditors as a Certified Internal Auditor, in the Association of Government Accountants as a Certified Government Financial Manager, and the Association of Fraud Examiners as a Certified Fraud Examiner.

Appointing Authority:  HART Board of Directors 
Term: 7/20/23 – 6/30/28

Robert Yu

Robert Yu spent most of his career in public transportation with Oahu Transit Services, Inc. (OTS) and is currently their president and general manager. In between his public transportation career with OTS, he served as the chief financial officer with the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) and the deputy director of finance with the State of Hawaii.

He served as the president of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii and is a board member of the Hawaii Employer-Union Trust Fund, the Teamsters Local 996 Health and Welfare Trust Fund, the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, and the United Chinese Society.

Appointing Authority: Honolulu City Council
Term: 02/22/2023 – 6/30/2025

Board Meeting Calendar

The HART Board and its committees work in open, regularly scheduled meetings. Join us and take the opportunity to provide public comment.

Yearly Monthly List

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Board Documents

Meeting Agendas and Documents

Document Archive

This is a collection of HART Board related documents, including HART Board Meeting minutes, agendas, materials, adopted resolutions, and reports.

Board Committees

We’ve never lost sight of our mission – to provide our community and riders with a reliable, affordable, and safe transportation alternative in Honolulu. There’s no voice more valuable than that of our community. So we listen, learn and adapt to meet the needs of today and tomorrow.

  • Oversee the Authority’s budget process
  • Monitor revenue and expenditures vis a vis the Operating and Capital budgets
  • Monitor the Authority’s long-range Financial Plan, financial policies
  • Receive the annual independent financial audit and oversee the Authority’s responses; oversee follow-up actions to such audits
  • Direct the recruitment, hiring, and evaluation processes for the Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer
  • Review recommendations from the ED and make recommendations on the creation and abolishment of positions
  • Review and monitor the Authority’s human resources practices, EEOC Policy, classification and compensation, and training and employee development programs
  • Monitor Strategic/Operational Plan implementation
  • Conduct, monitor, or direct investigations into personnel actions as directed by the Board
  • Oversee the implementation of the HRTP, focusing on scope, schedule, and Financial Plan, including activities that affect scope, schedule, expenditures of contingency funds, and risk strategies
  • Review and recommend major policy issues affecting Critical Path, including:
    • compliance with FTA project management and requirements
    • revenue policies
    • safety and security policies
    • secondary mitigation
  • Review and recommend approval of property acquisitions via condemnation
  • Oversee transition of operations and maintenance to the City Department of Transportation Services
  • Review and advise on change orders exceeding $5 million, or those that require the use of unallocated contingency funds regardless of amount; review and advise on change orders exceeding $1 million and up to $5 million
  • Review additions/deletions to contracts in the Contract Packaging Plan
  • Monitor compliance with the Programmatic Agreement, Sustainability Policy, Procurement Policy, and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program
  • Monitor and make recommendations on arrangements or agreements with the federal government and with public entities or utilities in accordance with Board Policy
  • Monitor Project Labor Agreements in conjunction with the Government Affairs/Audit/Legal Matters Committee
  • Receive reports from independent auditors on special financial and non-financial audits by third parties
  • Oversee HART’s responses to financial and non-financial audits by third parties
  • Identify problems, issues and/or management follow-up actions emanating from financial or non-financial audits
  • Pursue investigations initiated by the Board
  • Establish HART’s fraud hotline
  • Internal Audit Committee Chair and the Board Executive Officer are responsible for directing the work of the Internal Audit function
  • Prepare an annual work plan, including an Internal Audit risk assessment of HART
  • Receive reports on non-financial audits and oversee the Authority’s responses; oversee follow-up actions to such audits
  • Pursue Board investigations
  • Review legal challenges that are not directly project-related
  • Review legislation and/or government initiatives and recommend Board positions and testimony
  • Review the compromise, settlement, or dismissal of any claim or litigation and recommend action
  • Monitor Project Labor Agreements in conjunction with the Project Oversight Committee

Review and respond to time-sensitive oversight matters where full Board action is not legally required, including:

  • Reports/responses to governmental agencies where time deadlines are imposed by the governmental agency
  • Communications to media to explain Board or administration actions
  • Responses to Legislative or City Council inquiries where testimony is requested or necessary
  • Review strategies for litigation where timely response is required by a Court or adverse parties
  • Recommend approval or disapproval of change orders in excess of $5 million, upon review and recommendation by the POC, when the full Board is unable to meet
  • Approve use of unallocated contingency, upon review and recommendation by the POC, when the full Board is unable to meet

HART Weekly eBlast

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Segment 1 Rail Now Open

For information on rail fares, schedules, safety, and operational questions, visit the Department of Transportation Services website. Skyline Hotline: 808-848-5555

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