I love riding trains. I have ridden trains across Europe; and the little, open 'chu chu' from Dover to London. I rode the Amtrak and the Bangkok Skytrain. I have ridden the Bart (BRT) out of San Francisco and the MAX light rail in Portland . And the mono-rail at Disnyland. As a keiki, I loved watching the sugar train in Nanakuli, as it went chugging by; and wished I could be aboard it. I have vague memories of riding the trolley cars that used to transport folks around Honolulu, in the old days--with their sizzling, over-runners; though can't remember if they were on tracks or not...I think so.
The most spectacular train I ever rode was out of Lucerne in Switzerland, across the Alps--one of the top-ten coolest experiences of my life. The worst train ride, perhaps, was a crowded sleeping car in China, during my recent visit there; though, it was an experience to be remembered...once survived.
With this passion for riding trains, I have always been a supporter of a rail for Oahu. Though, that's a selfish reason to support it. The ongoing controversy about it has put doubt in my mind. The arguments about 'cost' don't carry much weight with me. Yes...it's expensive, but it's an investment; not money thrown away, in the long run. The pro-rail arguments are abundant. However, Ann Kobayashi puts forward some convincing reasons to go with 'trackless rubber-on-road' instead of fixed-rail--like a real train. Her arguments are enough to make me think twice about it.
The most compelling of arguments 'against' it that I've heard, came from a young Hawaiian woman at a public hearing. She was passionate in her view that a train just 'did not fit in Hawaii'; as if it were offensive to the spirit of the Aina. Her appeal alone is enough to change my mind about it...with highest respect to the desires of the Hawaiian people, and their right to self determination for these islands.
But still, I would have liked to take her aside for a moment, to suggest that an island riddled with elevated freeways, carrying a million air-polluting cars, can't be any less offensive to the Aina than a train.
Still, that's a hard one.
In the end though, when it comes time to check "yes" or "no" on the ballad, I will probably go with "yes"; for the simple, selfish reason that I love riding trains.
With this passion for riding trains, I have always been a supporter of a rail for Oahu. Though, that's a selfish reason to support it. The ongoing controversy about it has put doubt in my mind. The arguments about 'cost' don't carry much weight with me. Yes...it's expensive, but it's an investment; not money thrown away, in the long run. The pro-rail arguments are abundant. However, Ann Kobayashi puts forward some convincing reasons to go with 'trackless rubber-on-road' instead of fixed-rail--like a real train. Her arguments are enough to make me think twice about it.
The most compelling of arguments 'against' it that I've heard, came from a young Hawaiian woman at a public hearing. She was passionate in her view that a train just 'did not fit in Hawaii'; as if it were offensive to the spirit of the Aina. Her appeal alone is enough to change my mind about it...with highest respect to the desires of the Hawaiian people, and their right to self determination for these islands.
But still, I would have liked to take her aside for a moment, to suggest that an island riddled with elevated freeways, carrying a million air-polluting cars, can't be any less offensive to the Aina than a train.
Still, that's a hard one.
In the end though, when it comes time to check "yes" or "no" on the ballad, I will probably go with "yes"; for the simple, selfish reason that I love riding trains.
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