The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals will hear Honolulu rail opponents’ arguments sooner than later.

On Friday, the court denied the government’s motion to dismiss the appeal and sided with the plaintiffs — which include former Hawaii Gov. Ben Cayetano — in a ruling that will grant an expedited appeal hearing.

The plaintiffs in the case argued it was important for the court to fast track their appeal because construction on the $5.26 billion rail line is expected to resume in September.

If the court didn’t act soon, they said, “the very integrity of historic Honolulu, its Chinatown, and its waterfront will be forever despoiled.”

The case is scheduled to be heard the week of Aug. 12 in San Francisco.

—Nick Grube