DreanaLee Kalili

• Deputy Director
• Hawaii Department of Transportation
• https://hidot.hawaii.gov/harbors/

Dre Kalili serves as a Deputy Director for the Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) and oversees operations of the state’s commercial ports system. She was appointed by Governor Josh Green in December 2022. The priorities for the ports include preparing for sea level rise and improving port resilience and completing key capital improvement projects and land acquisitions to increase capacity
and alleviate congestion. Prior to her appointment as Deputy Director, Dre served as the HDOT Highways Special Projects Manager and led the $25 million broadband pilot project to fiber-enable highway facilities and provide free high-speed internet service in underserved communities statewide. She also provided support for implementation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act programs including the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program, and prepared discretionary grant applications for various highway programs. Dre also served as an Interim Deputy Director and Executive Assistant for the City and County of Honolulu’s Department of Transportation Services, Business Development Manager for HDOT, Policy and Program Analyst for the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, and as a Projects Director for Government Affairs and Business Development for the Native Affairs and Development Group in Washington, D.C. She holds a Master of Business Administration and a Bachelor’s degree in international affairs and Russian language.