Hawaii Senate Confirms New HDOT Director, Deputy Director
Hawaii’s Senate confirmed new leaders for the state’s Department of Transportation.
Jade Butay and Roy Catalani were confirmed as director and deputy director, respectively, on March 2.
Congratulations Jade Butay and Roy Catalani on the unanimous approval from the distinguished State Senate as the Hawaii Department of Transportation Director and Deputy Director, respectively. We can now officially drop the “Interim” from your titles! pic.twitter.com/VViHzVmj0S — Hawaii DOT (@DOTHawaii) March 2, 2018
Butay’s predecessor, Ford Fuchigami, took a position in Gov. David Ige’s office as administrative director. Ige appointed Butay to serve as HDOT’s interim director in October 2017.
Butay previously served as deputy director of Hawaii DOT, as well as deputy director of the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations.
Catalani (left), Inouye and Butay. (Office of Sen. Lorraine Inouye)
“For those of us who have been lucky to know and work with Jade, we recognize him as a person whose character embodies the values of hard work, determination, grit and decency,” said Sen. Lorraine Inouye, chairman of the Senate Committee on Transportation and Energy. “By approving Jade’s nomination as the Director of the Department of Transportation, we will ensure continuity and a seamless transition for the department.”
In this role Butay will oversee 15 airports, 10 commercial harbors, 2,500 lane miles of highway and 2,600 employees.
Catalani also has transportation experience. He previously served as vice president of strategic initiatives and external affairs for Young Brothers, an interisland freight company with a fleet of seven barges.
Catalani has served as chairman of the State Land Use Commission, deputy director of the Office of State Planning and as a partner at several law firms.
“Roy is recognized as a person who values hard work, fairness, integrity and diplomacy,” Inouye said. “His confirmation will ensure legal continuity and a seamless legal transition for the DOT.”
