Lori Kahikina on Leading HART: Rail Realities & Community Impact

In this candid conversation, HART Director Lori Kahikina shares her unexpected journey into transit leadership—from her engineering roots to stepping into one of Hawaii’s most scrutinized public roles. We discuss the challenges of overseeing Honolulu’s rail project, including:

• Her personal & professional path to leading HART amid financial and logistical hurdles.
• The tough questions: How does she justify taxpayer costs and disruptions to communities?
• Addressing frustrations, like blocked ocean views and construction impacts—does the long-term benefit outweigh the short-term pain?
• Transparency & trust—can the rail project regain public confidence?

Kahikina doesn’t shy away from controversy, offering frank insights on accountability, problem-solving, and her vision for O‘ahu’s transit future.