State Transportation Director Barry Fukunaga has been named Gov. Linda Lingle's new chief of staff to replace Bob Awana, who resigned in June after he was targeted in an extortion scheme stemming from his secret extramarital relationship with a woman in the Philippines.

"Barry is someone who has tremendous respect among our entire Cabinet," Lingle said in announcing the promotion. "A big part of the role of chief of staff is to be the point person for all the directors. He acts as a chief operating officer, so that I can keep a broader vision of our state's future and where we want to get to."

Deputy transportation director Brennon Morioka will become acting transportation director, Lingle said. Morioka oversaw state highways as deputy, and is a former state Republican Party chairman.

Fukunaga has been transportation director for the past year, after overseeing state harbors since 2004. He has led state efforts to launch the controversial Hawaii Superferry service between O'ahu, Maui and Kaua'i.

Fukunaga said he was pleased with his new role and planned to focus on the administration's efforts to promote economic growth and innovation. He is known in government circles as a soft-spoken and hands-on administrator.

The lengthy dispute over the Superferry is a main reason it took more than five months to name Awana's replacement, Lingle said.

The new service has been challenged in court by environmentalists and others, and was suspended shortly after it began in August. Service to Maui is scheduled to resume Thursday, after a special legislative session cleared the way for the ferry to operate before an environmental assessment is complete.

"It was the Superferry and the special session more than anything else, wanting to take first things first, and get those things settled and resolved," Lingle said.

Fukunaga's role will be somewhat different from Awana's. Along with being the departmental liaison, Awana had supervised about 65 people in the governor's office, along with their budget and associated paperwork. That role will now be handled by Joy Watari, who had served as acting chief of staff since Awana's resignation.

State House Majority Leader Kirk Caldwell, D-24th (Manoa), said Lingle has full discretion to choose her chief of staff, since the position is not subject to state Senate confirmation.

"We hope who she's chosen is the best for the state," he said.

Caldwell noted, however, that lawmakers have raised questions about Fukunaga's and Awana's handling of the Superferry issue. The state auditor is conducting a review of the administration's decision-making on the project.

"We know that her former chief of staff was intimately involved in running the Department of Transportation during the critical times decisions were made regarding the Superferry," he said.

"I'd like to know what happened during those critical times."

State House Minority Leader Lynn Finnegan, R-32nd (Lower Pearlridge, 'Aiea, Halawa), praised Fukunaga and Morioka as innovative thinkers who have been responsive to community concerns.

"Chief of staff Barry Fukunaga is very intentional and focused on accomplishing goals through collaboration," Finnegan said in a statement. "I have full confidence in both chief-of-staff Fukunaga and acting director of Department of Transportation Brennon Morioka's abilities to accomplish the job."

Before overseeing state harbors, Fukunaga served for 25 years in various capacities at the department's Airports Division, including airports manager, airports operations manager and airports services supervisor.

He also served Honolulu's director of enterprise services from 2000 to 2004, where he administered and managed Blaisdell Center, Waikiki Shell, Honolulu Zoo and various golf courses. He previously served as city deputy environmental director overseeing city wastewater treatment facilities and trash collection and disposal.