Don Medeiros Appointed New Director of County DOT

Judge Rhonda Loo signs the Oath of Office to officially make Don Medeiros (center) the new director of Transportation with Mayor Alan Arakawa looking on. Photo: County of Maui/RYAN PIROS

Don Medeiros was appointed as the new director of the county’s Department of Transportation.

Maui State Circuit Court Judge Rhonda Loo officially swore in Medeiros in the mayor’s conference room early this morning.

Mayor Alan Arakawa appointed Medeiros to replace former department Director Jo Ann Johnson-Winer, who retired at the beginning of 2016 after 15 years of public service—the first 10 as a county council member and the last five as transportation director.

Johnson-Winer intends to spend her retirement visiting family on the Mainland and keeping active on the board of the West Maui Hospital Foundation, she said.

Judge Rhonda Loo swearing-in of the new Director of Transportation Don Medeiros. Photo: County of Maui/RYAN PIROS

“The Maui Bus system grew leaps and bounds under Jo Ann’s watch and we all wish her the best,” said Mayor Arakawa. “But Don is a veteran of the transportation business and I know he’ll take us to the next level over the course of these next several years. Transportation issues are becoming more and more prevalent in our community and Don is more than up to the task of addressing these concerns.”

Prior to this appointment, Medeiros had been serving as an executive assistant for the Department of Management, implementing the county’s vehicle policy program. Previously, Medeiros had been appointed transportation director under the Tavares administration in 2007 and was originally the county’s first official transportation department hire when the Apana administration appointed him “Transit Czar” in 2002.

Under his leadership the Maui Bus system grew from 29,000 boardings a year in 2004 to 2.3 million boardings in 2010.

Medeiros was born and raised on Maui. He is a graduate from what was then known as St. Anthony’s Boys School, and later Maunaolu College. His pre-county transportation background includes working for Grayline Maui Sightseeing Tours, Hawaiian Discovery Tours, Budget Rent-A-Car and Maui Economic Opportunity. He lives in Wailuku with his wife.