New county transportation director sworn in

Judge Rhonda Loo signs the Oath of Office to make Don Medeiros (center) officially the new director of transportation as Mayor Alan Arakawa looks on. PHOTO BY THE COUNTY OF MAUI/RYAN PIROS.
WAILUKU – Maui State Circuit Court Judge Rhonda Loo last week Wednesday morning officially swore in Don Medeiros as the new director for the Department of Transportation in the mayor’s conference room.
Mayor Alan Arakawa appointed Medeiros to replace former department director Jo Ann Johnson-Winer, who retired at the start of this year after 15 years of public service – the first ten as a county councilmember and the last five as transportation director.
Johnson-Winer said she intends to spend her retirement visiting family on the Mainland and being active on the board of the West Maui Hospital Foundation.
“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.”

Johnson-Winer
Prior to this current appointment, Medeiros had been serving as an executive assistant for the Department of Management, assigned to implement the county’s vehicle policy program.
Previously Medeiros had been appointed transportation director under Mayor Charmaine Tavares’ administration in 2007 and was originally the county’s first official Transportation Department hire when the James 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 and 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.
- Johnson-Winer