The Native Hawaiian Legal Corp. and the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) have both confirmed that the city of Honolulu has halted construction on the $5.26 billion rail project due to last week’s ruling of the Hawaii Supreme Court. In an unanimous decision, the Hawaii Supreme Court found that the city of Honolulu had improperly begun construction before completing a required achaeological survey of the path that the rail would follow. Until the city finishes a survey to determine whether or not there are Native Hawaiian burials or other archaeological resources in the intended path, all construction would be ceased.
The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation stated, “HART is working with its contractors to determine what work will be necessary for public health and safety, to secure and maintain the job sites, or to otherwise responsibly wind up ongoing activities.” It had been previously estimated that each month of delay will cost the city approximately $10 million.
Cliff Slater, an opponent of the rail project, predicts that it would take the city until the spring of 2013 before they will be able to accurately complete their archaeological survey. Slater noted that in the meantime, the city is also being faced with separate lawsuit in federal court. Arguments for the federal lawsuit were also heard last week and a ruling in that case will be made by the judge in the next few months.
Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 8-27-2012, www.staradvertiser.com
Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Broker-in-Charge, Realtor®
Global Executive Realty, LLC
www.myhawaiihomesearch.com
www.myhawaiicondo.com
www.myhawaiidreamhome.com
Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Broker-in-Charge, Realtor®
Global Executive Realty, LLC
www.myhawaiihomesearch.com
www.myhawaiicondo.com
www.myhawaiidreamhome.com
