“If this Court does not act, the very integrity of historic Honolulu, its Chinatown, and its waterfront will be forever despoiled.”

That’s the opening line in rail opponents’ bid to get the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to hear their case sooner rather than later.

Former Hawaii Gov. Ben Cayetano and others have been fighting in federal court for two years to stop Honolulu’s $5.2 billion rail project.

In February, they appealed a decision by a federal judge that would essentially allow the project to proceed.

But with construction slated to begin again in September, the plaintiffs want their appeal heard as soon as possible.

You can read their request here:

—Nick Grube