The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) announced the hiring of Michael O’Keefe as the Deputy Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer (COO). In this role, O’Keefe will work closely with Lori Kahikina, HART’s Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, to provide project and financial oversight to the Honolulu Rail Transit Project. O’Keefe will succeed former Deputy Executive Director and COO Rick Keene, who is retiring at the end of April 2025, after four years and four months with HART.
“I would like to express my appreciation to Rick for the critical work he has done since joining me at HART in 2021 and I want to extend Mike a very warm welcome to the HART ‘Ohana,” said Kahikina. “I look forward to working closely with Mike to continue to move this project forward as we enter the next critical phase of guideway and station construction in the Downtown area. I have worked with him for many years while at the Department of Environmental Services and am confident his expertise and character align seamlessly with the culture of our HART Ohana.”
Formerly the Deputy Director of the City and County of Honolulu’s Department of Environmental Services (ENV), O’Keefe has over 16 years of management, financial, and administrative experience with the City. As Deputy Director of ENV, O’Keefe was responsible for the department’s finances and revenue bond program, including long-range financial forecasting, as well as assisting with the oversight of the operations and maintenance of the city’s 2,100 miles of sewer lines, 72 wastewater pump stations, nine wastewater treatment plants, landfills, waste-to-energy facility, and the provision of refuse/recycling collection and disposal services to 180,000 homes.
“Michael O’Keefe’s leadership at ENV can’t be overstated, and he’s been a cornerstone for the department over the past 16 years,” said Mayor Rick Blangiardi. “He is a dedicated public servant and has the necessary experience and vision to help lead the rail project in the years to come.”
O’Keefe holds a bachelor’s degree in Law & Society from DeSales University, a master’s degree in Urban Planning from the University of Southern California, and a master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.