TV reporter Tim Sakahara to be state transportation spokesman

Hawaii News Now reporter Tim Sakahara begins a new career Tuesday as the new public information officer for the state Department of Transportation.

This is his last day at the stations.

Sakahara, who could not immediately be reached, succeeds another former TV reporter, Caroline Sluyter, in the position occupied by still other former broadcast and print reporters.

"I personally have admired Tim’s aggressiveness and tenacity in pursuing stories, never taking no for an answer and helping give us a reputation for not backing down on controversial stories," said Mark Platte, news director, in a memo to staff.

"Everything we like about Tim – his sense of fairness, his curiosity, his intelligence (except when playing Fantasy Football) – is what compelled the state Department of Transportation to reach out and select him as their new spokesman," Platte said.

After Monday’s Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, Sakahara begins his new job Tuesday, and will be the media’s go-to contact person for matters relating to state highways, airports and harbors, at all hours of the day and night.