...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM HST THURSDAY...
* WHAT...East winds 20 to 30 kt.
* WHERE...All surrounding coastal waters.
* WHEN...Until 6 PM HST Thursday.
* IMPACTS...Conditions will be hazardous to small craft.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Inexperienced mariners, especially those operating smaller
vessels, should avoid navigating in these conditions.
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'A'ali'i is a reporter with KITV. He was born and raised on the island of Maui and graduated from the University of Southern California with a bachelor's degree in Journalism.
KITV-4's 'A'ali'i Dukelow tells us when the city plans to take over the first phase of the system, and what else needs to get done before that can happen.
HONOLULU (KITV-4) -- Transportation leaders promised the Honolulu rail system is on track and ready to open on schedule, with its long-anticipated launch slated for June 30.
"It's exciting, exciting to get the people on the train and to see what it looks like," Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) director Lori Kahikina shared.
"It's been a long time coming. The public has been very frustrated, it's been delayed but we are here."
During a tour Thursday with members of the media, Kahikina said HART plans to hand over management to the city's Department of Transportation Services (DTS) on June 9.
The announcement comes after repairs to 20 of the track's "hammerhead" supports were completed about a week and a half ago, according to Kahikina.
Most of the cracked, t-shaped pillars just needed epoxy injections, but eight of them required post, post-tensioning, in which a metal frame is installed on each side of the structure with cabling running in between them. Strung through a black tube, the cords cinch the concrete together.
"You clinch it tight just a woman's girdle or a man's belt. That's what's pulling the hammerhead and that's what's closing up the gap of the cracks," Kahikina explained.
In addition to the fixes, HART, as well as city, state, and federal transportation agencies had to safety check 24,000 system elements before transferring operations to DTS.
Hitachi, the company contracted to operate the system, also had to complete trial runs before the transfer. The group finished testing in April.
"I'm so proud of our team, Hitachi, they finished it ahead of schedule," Kahikina praised.
Now, HART just needs an approval letter from the engineer of record.
"Even though we're handing over the first segment, so that's from Kapolei to the stadium, we still have segments two and three to finish," Kahikina added.
The second section, from the stadium to middle street, is expected to open in 2025. About 5 years afterward, rail leaders hope to launch the third phase from middle street to Kaka'ako.
Rides between the stations in the first rail system segment are expected to start on June 30, with free rides through the 4th of July.
Do you have a story idea? Email news tips to news@kitv.com
'A'ali'i is a reporter with KITV. He was born and raised on the island of Maui and graduated from the University of Southern California with a bachelor's degree in Journalism.
