The latest discovery was in the Chinatown area. A human bone, believed to be part of a foot, was dug up on Nimitz Highway, where one of the rail stations will be built. Cultural Monitor Paulette Kaleikini was at the site when it was discovered and and says she will ask the rail authority to do more trenching in the area because she expects more bones will be found.
"There are burial sites, other re-burial sites right in that area, where remains that were found years ago were re-buried," said Kaleikini.
Human remains have been found at two other locations in the path of the project. Kaleikini is a plaintiff in the lawsuit that has halted the rail project since August. Since then an Archeological Inventory Survey has been taking place, which is necessary before construction can continue. Rail Authority CEO Dan Grabauskas says the delay is costing up to 7 million dollars a month, but some of that can be offset by modifications in the construction.
"Do I think we can do total savings to offset the additional cost of the delay? Don’t know yet, we’ve only been two months into it but we do have the option to dip into the contingency," said Dan Grabauskas, Rail Authority CEO.
The delay can run anywhere from nine to 12 months and Grabauskas says the trenching work is ahead of schedule. He’s expressed optimism that the project will move forward now that pro-rail candidate Kirk Caldwell has been elected as mayor. But rail opponents like Ben Cayetano say lawsuit over the environmental impact statement could lead to more delays.
See the original article at: KHON2 Local News
