Landowners got lucrative zoning perks and fast-track approvals to build luxury towers in the busy neighborhood all based on rail. Did they give enough back in return?

“There is still much more work to be done before we can turn this project into a success story,” Lori Kahikina said in a letter announcing her decision.

The plan needs approval from the Federal Transit Administration, and it’s not clear yet whether that agency will get on board.

HART board members contemplated what message that bonus might send to the public, however, as rail faces a severe financial crisis.

The latest snafu, involving track gauge, raises questions about the crossings’ design as HART struggles to make their components fit together.

In a new ‘State of HART’ address, the CEO said the agency has made huge strides. Board members cautioned against being too optimistic.

An official slide presentation on the new executive director’s performance cites plenty of achievements but no weaknesses.

UPDATED: Dean Hazama had served on the local volunteer rail oversight board for just over two years.

The retired Hawaiian Airlines executive joined the local oversight group in 2017 and saw rail’s ‘P3’ effort collapse.

After discussions with the Federal Transit Administration, the Honolulu mayor says his personal target is to get rail to the Honolulu civic center.