GOVERNOR LINGLE APPOINTS BRUCE MATSUI AS DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION

For Immediate Release August 20, 2003

HONOLULU – Governor Linda Lingle has named Bruce Y. Matsui as a deputy director of the state Department of Transportation (DOT).  Since 1987, Matsui has served as a deputy attorney general, advising the DOT on legal matters relating to airports, highways and harbors.  Matsui will start his new position on August 21.

“Having worked closely with the DOT for the past 16 years, Bruce understands the department’s functions as well as the various issues and challenges, ranging from procurement concerns to land use matters to airport lease negotiations,” said Governor Lingle.  “Bruce will complement the leadership of Director Rod Haraga and will work well with the harbors, airports and highways divisions to help implement the department’s long-term plans to improve our state’s transportation system and infrastructure.”

As deputy attorney general, Matsui has counseled and represented the state on litigation matters ranging from administrative proceedings, procurement protests, lease rent arbitrations, noise lawsuits, environmental claims, and eminent domain actions.  His primary areas of focus have been transactional work, including property acquisitions covering the State Office Tower, the former Hemmeter Building, and expansion areas for Honolulu Harbor and Kalaeloa Barbers Point Harbor; lease negotiations for projects such as the Aloha Tower Marketplace and the United Airlines reservations center; and assisting DOT in resolving disputes relating to state/air carrier leases and airport concessions, including, most recently, the retail and in-bond concessions currently held by DFS Group L.P.   Matsui also was involved in handling several emergency projects such as the Waimea Bay, Makapu`u and Castle Junction rockfall mitigation projects. 

Prior to joining the Department of the Attorney General, Matsui was an attorney with the law firm of Kobayashi, Watanabe, Sugita, Kawashima & Goda, where he handled corporate and business matters, land use proceedings, insurance defense, and real property conveyancing and financing. 

Matsui is a graduate of the University of Hawai`i and Hastings College of Law. 

#####

For more information, contact:
Rod Haraga  
Director, Department of Transportation  
Phone: 587-2150

Lenny Klompus
Senior Advisor – Communications
Phone: 586-7705

Russell Pang
Chief of Media Relations
Phone: 586-0043