The only person to speak out against the rail project during the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation meeting was local author Tom Coffman.

Inside Honolulu reports:

Coffman has been an ardent opponent of the project, and has appeared at various functions with former Gov. Ben Cayetano, who is running for Honolulu mayor. Cayetano is running to kill the $5.26 billion project.

Many of Coffman’s criticisms dealt with HART and the city moving too fast and pushing too hard to keep the rail project moving forward. He also brought up the recent Hawaii Supreme Court ruling and a separate federal lawsuit. 

HART Board Member Don Horner responded to Coffman by saying that the city was simply following the direction of the state, at least as it relates to surveying for Native Hawaiian burials.

This isn’t the first time a city or HART official has pointed the finger at the state, and specifically the State Historic Preservation Division. Here’s a story Civil Beat Reporter Sophie Cocke wrote today on that topic.

—Nick Grube