Old OR&L Route for Honolulu Rail Defended
 Kioni Dudley |
Kioni Dudley, a Makakilo resident, wrote an article on the Honolulu Rail which the Star-Bulletin published about two weeks ago in their commentary section. In it Dudley wrote that the present proposed rail route on the west side of Oahu was impractical. Instead of the route as proposed, Dudley suggested another one, using the old OR&L line.
You can read the commentary here.
 Wayne Yoshioka |
Ten days later, on February 25, Wayne Yoshioka, Honolulu City & County transportation services director, wrote a rebuttal to Kioni’s piece. Leaving no doubt about what tone the article was going to take, the first sentence was: “Kioni Dudley, apparently without having done any significant research or due diligence, proposes using the old Oahu Railway & Land (OR&L) right-of-way for the Honolulu rail transit route ("Rail route, agenda scrutinized," Star-Bulletin, Island Commentary, Feb. 15).”
You can read Yoshioka’s commentary here.
Today, in an unusual move, the Star-Bulletin published Kioni’s reply to Yoshioka’s rebuttal of his original article, but in two separate pieces and places.
First, the first piece, the preface to Kioni’s article today:
City Response on Rail Was Public Disservice
Ordinarily, one would not expect to see an exchange go beyond two articles. But rail transit is the biggest project the city has ever undertaken, and it's crucial that our leaders and our people be really informed. The article by city Transportation Director Wayne Yoshioka ("Using old OR&L path for rail not practical," Star-Bulletin, Island Commentary, Feb. 25) was a real disservice to the discussion.
Readers should know that I really have spent a great amount of time researching this. I've walked most of the Oahu Railway & Land right-of-way. I've passed my work by about 20 American Institute of Architects members and their rail experts, receiving input. I haven't fudged on anything, or neglected to say things that are important. These are the facts, as honestly as they can be put forward. I think it is important for the discussion to continue.
Dr. Kioni Dudley
Makakilo(Editor's note: This letter prefaced a new commentary [sic] submitted to counter Mr. Yoshioka's piece, which had rebutted Mr. Dudley’s [sic] original piece.)
Finally, here is the second piece, appearing in the Star-Bulletin's commentary section, further answering Wayne Yoshioka’s rebuttal to his (Dudley's) original article.
Old OR&L Route Defended for Rail Rransit
Honolulu Star-Bulletin
By Dr. Kioni Dudley
Sunday, March 7, 2010
On Feb. 25, Wayne Yoshioka, the city's director of Transportation Services, wrote a rebuttal to my proposal that the old Oahu Railway & Land right-of-way be used as the route for the rail “(Using old OR&L path for rail not practical.” Star-Bulletin, Island Commentary). His article is in places misleading, in others badly misinformed.
Concerning use of the OR&L route, he writes, "Dudley should ask the residents living in the Ewa Plain what they think of a major construction project in their area, since it would displace dozens of families and businesses to construct stations, park-and-ride lots, and other facilities."
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