The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) Board of Directors announced the appointment of Nelson Lee as its newest member. Lee was appointed by Honolulu Mayor, Rick Blangiardi, on October 17, 2025. Lee’s term will end June 30, 2026.
Lee holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. Lee brings over 40 years of experience in construction, engineering and project management to the Board, having led and supported major projects around the world, many within the transportation sector. His distinguished career includes serving as the Director for the Office of Project Delivery at the University of Hawaii, the Program and Project Manager for Design and Construction at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and positions with the U.S. Army Garrison Hawaii Directorate of Public Works and the Department of Transportation’s traffic and highway design sections. While working in the private sector between 2016 and 2017, Lee also briefly worked on the Honolulu Rail Transit Project, providing forecasting data and preparing change orders for HART. He is a resident of Kakaʻako.
“On Behalf of HART, I would like to extend a sincere welcome to Mayoral Appointee Nelson Lee to the HART Board of Directors. I look forward to working with him on this next critical phase of the project,” said HART Executive Director and CEO Lori Kahikina, P.E. “Mahalo to former Board Chair Colleen Hanabusa for her strong leadership and dedication to the project. I have learned from her throughout the years and I wish her the best.”