Rail work in Kakaʻako expected in October; small-business owners seek concrete mitigation

Harry Cho from the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HEART) told the board the agency expects to begin larger, more impactful guideway construction on Poliquila/Holakawila Street in Kakaʻako in the October timeframe and that preliminary tree work may begin earlier. He said final traffic plans are near completion and that HEART staff will meet individually with affected tenants and business owners once traffic-control plans are finalized.

Courtney Monahan, a Kakaʻako business owner, told the board she has been seeking concrete mitigation from the rail authority and city for small businesses threatened by prolonged construction: "I believe that the city is actively failing to mitigate, or I actually believe that they are complicit in watching businesses fail due to the rail." She asked what specific protections or compensation the city would provide for revenue losses and urged direct tenant outreach.

HEART said outreach will continue, and the agency pledged to provide more detailed traffic plans to tenants and the community as they are finalized. HEART encouraged interested businesses to sign up for project updates and said an outreach meeting would be scheduled once traffic plans are set.