DHHL & DOT Nominees Gain Unanimous Confirmation

Jobie Masagatani. Photo courtesy State of Hawaiʻi, Office of the Governor.

By Maui Now Staff

In a unanimous vote, members of the state Senate confirmed Jobie Masagatani as Chairperson of the Department of Hawaiian Homelands and William Aila, Jr. as Deputy to the Chair of DHHL.

Members of the Hawaiian Affairs Committee expressed confidence in Masagatani’s leadership saying they are hopeful that she will “help to stabilize the agency” and “positively impact the lives of Hawaiian homeland beneficiaries.”

Senators also announced the confirmation of Ford Fuchigami as Director of the state Department of Transportation and Jade Butay as his Deputy Director by unanimous vote.

Fuchigami said his department is “dedicating the next four years to sustainable transportation,” and expressed a desire to “take a lead on clean energy initiatives.”