Honolulu Mass Transit

The Trust for America's Health projected that during a worldwide cataclysm of a flu pandemic, that the economic impact for Hawai'i state would be $3.6 billion dollars. The city and county of Honolulu $5 billion dollar transit project would have an even greater economic impact for the island of Oahu. Although money will be had with so many federal dollars pouring in, it seems that most of the money will not trickle down within the local economy.

Perhaps state law requiring that all restaurants have public bathrooms in order to wash hands before eating can mitigate the spread of the flu during a pandemic. Current Hawaii state law requires only those with a liquor license must have public hygiene facilities.

Washing one hands before eating is an easy answer if there is a essential accommodations for human within the public infrastructure. The solution for all the problems that the railroad will bring won't be as simple to extract oneself from once erection is already underway. Real estate speculation is the most obvious one, but good fortune can sometimes bring it's own problems.

Hawaii's has an incredible low unemployment rate of 2.2 percent. The imported mainland workers working per diem or at a higher corridor of pay than locals will turn raise Honolulu's rental rate at a even more higher into the stratosphere. At the bottom rung, the most precariously housed population will become housing refugees at the emergency transitional shelter that Governer Linda Lingle officially opened on Mar 16, 2007.

Volcanic ash was used in ancient Roman cement and modern Portland cement. In the words of Tim Dolen, a pozzolana expert and research civil engineer at the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, "the pozzolana was calcined by the volcano," enabling it to chemically react with calcium hydroxide in slaked lime, requiring no heat."

The planned multi-billion elevated rail system requires tons and tons of concrete. How come there is no manufacturing of volcanic ash cement in Hawai'i? On Kaua`i, some old dune deposits have been mined for making cement, (Hawaii Volcano Observatory.) Since 2001, the island of Oahu imports one hundred percent of it's cement.

The following is a recent history timeline of news regarding Honolulu transit project.

February 26, 2007 - (Honolulu Advertiser.)
City Council approved first segment of fixed-rail transit route. Governor Lingle said, "Multibillion-dollar transit system that leaves out a stop at Honolulu International Airport is a "serious" mistake."

February 27, 2007 - (Honolulu Advertiser.)
Council member, Djou called yesterday's decision a "train wreck."

Feb 28, 2007 - (KHNL.)
It's estimated the city would need to acquire 139 parcels of land

March 11, 2007 - (as reported by the Star-Bulletin)
Mayor Mufi Hannemann: "I don't care if we don't have the money or land and we haven't even applied for federal funds yet, we're breaking ground on that rapid transit system in 2009!"

March 21, 2007 - (Honolulu Advertiser)
Honolulu "Burocrazia" propose impact study on the financial drain effect it will surely have on all other city services. "It's very frightening," said Kobayashi, council member.

March 11, 2007 - (Honolulu Advertiser)
Council member Charles Djou said. "The city should bar any company convicted of bid-rigging or other corruption charges from working on the $5 billion transit project to link West O'ahu with urban Honolulu." Mufi's multi-billion pet project would require council approval.