Honolulu Reporter

The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) has awarded its former board chairwoman a $200,000 contract to assist the board.

Tasked to liaise with city leaders, Former Hawaii Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa's 18-month $216,000 consultation contract could provide her $924,000 in a span of six years if the contract is extended.

“Obviously we have a funding shortfall. We need to effectively communicate with the state Legislature, we need to solve that issue,” HART Chief Operations Officer Rick Keene said during a March HART board meeting, the Honolulu Civil Beat reported.

As the HART board consultant, Hanabusa is expected to provide support “in the development and implementation of short and long-term funding strategies” for the local transit project primarily involving capital funding opportunities and related government liaison activities.

To qualify for the post, the board sought for a candidate who has a law degree and two decades of experience practicing law, at least 10 years of experience at either the city and county or state level of government “in legislation and policymaking” and a minimum of half-a-decade experience at the federal government level in the same capacity.

The Civil Beat reported that according to HART officials, the former board chairwoman was the only bidder who met the qualifications.