This is a conversation from just a while ago on FaceBook. Panos Prevedouros, a highly educated gentleman and former mayoral candidate here on Oahu was verbally abused in the election and made a strong Anti Rail case, as he continues to today. We hope to help educate many who blindly have gone along with the propaganda machine known as the Rail Pushers.

Rail sucks? Depends on your point of view, but it sure sucks our tax money: Federal subsidies for Amtrak are 500 times greater than federal subsidies to intercity buses. Federal subsidies to transit are 3200 times greater than federal subsidies for autos.·

Debbie Tobler-Rydin: Thank you, Panos, for not stopping on your quest to stop RAIL!
Russell Pang: You making a great case of why the Long Train Running needs to be stopped now…Thank you!

Iris Tanabe-Hirose: Mr. Prevedouros,
Will the rail run 24/7? How much will the fare be for one way? How long will it take to get to Aloha Tower from the starting point ? these issues were never mentioned, I think. Then, after getting of at the Aloha Tower, one would have to catch a cab or the city bus! Spending more money! Was there any poll taken from west Oahu on how many people would really ride the Rail? they should!
PLEASE STOP THE RAIL !

Panos D Prevedouros Fare will be over $3 in 2020 one way. Actual cost per trip will be over $25. End to end the trip wiill take about 45 minutes excluding the time and transfers to access the stations. If a train is full then two thirds of the passengers will be standees.

Russell Pang What is the maximum number of passengers that can be “safely” transported in one run?
Iris Tanabe-Hirose ‎”RIDICULOUS !!!”
You see Mr. Prevedouros, SO MANY UNADDRESSED, UNANSWERED DETAILS OF THIS RAIL !!!! Mr. Pang posted a question already !!! SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE !

Mr. Prevedouros, your idea and Ms. Kobayashi’s made more sense !!

How can the people who want to stop this type of rail do anything ?
like I said before, I voted for you the last time !!! PLEASE run for mayor again next year !!!!!!!!!! the mayor we have now, got no chance next year ! it’s to bad we’re stuck with our governor for awhile !
one question you didn’t answer, WILL THE RAIL RUN 24/7 ?
mahalo with much aloha,
iris

Panos D Prevedouros: Trains will run 20 hours on weekdays, less on weekends. Max capacity is 600 passengers per train. The plan is to run a train every 3 minutes in peak periods, every 6 to 10 minutes off peak and weekends.

David Oshiro: How many people will be able to commute to work on a train? How much will it cost each person to commute round trip? What is the actual cost for a single person to commute round trip? How much time is saved for a person to commute via train as opposed to riding the bus or driving? Finally, how long will it take for the cost of building and operating rail to be made up by ridership?

Panos D Prevedouros: A lot, in theory. The actual problem is that in reality over 95% of people who drive do NOT switch to trains. Roundrip with monthly car about $5. Actual cost $50. City studies say that if you live east of Kaonohi Drive then auto beats the rail to work. Never of course. True cost per round trip is ~$50 and actual fare is ~$5! And every 30 years you have to rebuild the whole rail systems, escalators, elevators, controlers, machines, etc. A complete money pit. That’s why THEY like it! THEY got us for good.

Iris Tanabe-Hirose OH NO !!!
are you saying, it’s a done deal and absolutely nothing can stop the rail ? where are the “STOP RAIL NOW” people ? what, they gave up ?

$5 per trip is pretty steep. That’s $25 per week and $100 per month. Lot less than paying for gas but more expensive then catching the bus.

Iris Tanabe-Hirose Mr. Oshiro, $5.00 is nothing !!! the riders still have to pay for a cab or bus fare once they reach the end of the line, which is the aloha tower !!! it takes me about 40 minutes from aiea to the university and it cost me only $2.50 and i… use the transfer to come back home !!! if you pass the transfer time, just another $2.50 . (the a-express bus has a longer time frame for the transfer) they should just double the buses !!! i would think it would be less costly then taking the rail !!! i heard that the c-express is a good way to travel from the leeward coast !!! double that route, too !!!See More

John Ellis Iris, Ala Moana center is the end of the line. It has been in the initial plan from its inception from what I understand. The only changes to the route since it’s first design was the shift from Aiea to the airport, and a few minor shifts… for utilities and stuff. But, I still agree, it’s ridiculous. Why does TheTrain service an empty field in Kapolei but not Waikiki or UH Manoa? Ridiculous. I would LOVE a train, if they could do it right. But as we all know, this city and state cant seem to get anything right. We need Panos in city hall!

Rick Emmerich what about the parking at the place you pick up rail? Will that cost money? Will it even be there? What happens (if it IS there) when it is full, just drive to work right? How about the extreme delays that will happen as they tear up the route to build the rail. In 50 years will those still alive feel it was worth the trouble and money? NOPE

Panos D Prevedouros This is the untold story that will drive my Kapolei friends totally mad: The excuciating delays over 6 to 10 years during construction. Many people will lose their mind when 2, 4 or all lanes on Farrington and Kam Hwy close for weeks at a time…
Panos D Prevedouros Followed by closures on Dillingham, Queen, etc. People have never seen anything like it. Just imagine the closure that is needed to install a football field 30 ft up in the air over two major intersecting streets…
50 minutes ago · LikeUnlike · 2 peopleLoading….Rick Emmerich How many businesses along there will be lost, forever. And the nerve of the Rail Pushers to suggest that the development will be substantial. At what cost? The guy that was interviewed in Waipahu the other night can’t sleep through the night due to the very loud drilling up toi 3AM. How long will he, (and many others have to sacrifice.)
49 minutes ago · LikeUnlike · 1 personLoading….Iris Tanabe-Hirose mr. prevedouros, in 2008 election 140,623 people voted “NO” to the rail !!!
it’s been 3 years, it’s time to take another vote on the rail before the city spends all the money that we could using for pot holes !!! maybe a special election on this rail matter !!!
what you just posted is just what is going to happen!

Rick Emmerich Is it too much to consider that maybe this island has enough development out west, (sorry Disney). Could the big contractors live withou paving over ag fields. One day, Oahu will truly regret giving up some of the most valuable (in my opi…nion anyway) agricultural land in the world. Could the union laborers and people that build those developments at least consider for a second that the state doesn’t owe you a construction job. Heck, learn something new or move to Nevada and build all you want there.
Rick Emmerich I predict, with just a little organization on OUR part, 66% AGAINST and 34% FOR Rail if the vote was even close to fair and honest.

Hope For The Islands!

Guest Editorial: Kyle Bartholomew

Kyle and Joan Bartholomew with their son Brett

(On Sunday June 1, 2008, the Honolulu Mission Team will be sent out! On that historic day, it will be my honor to appoint Kyle as an Evangelist in the Kingdom of God. Kyle was born in Hilo, Hawaii on October 2, 1981 to Jay and Cindy Bartholomew. He has an older sister Robin and two younger brothers. Throughout his life, Kyle’s passion has been basketball. Following in his father’s steps, Kyle played at the University of Hawaii – Hilo. He was a three year starter, two time All-Conference selection and captain of the team in both his junior and senior years! It was in college that Kyle was baptized by Chris Teves on July 29, 2001. Before he graduated in 2003, he baptized his brothers, Evan and Levi. On August 14, 2004, he marrried an awesome disciple, Joan Udtohan. God blessed them with Brett on March 15, 2006. Later that year, Kyle became the full-time minister for the Hilo International Church of Christ. When the Bartholomews left to train in Los Angeles in 2007, Evan and his wife Kelly began to lead the Hilo Church. This past year in Los Angeles, Kyle has been abundantly fruitful at Cal State Fullerton. With their “Hawaiian warmth” both Kyle and Joan have endeared themselves to the entire Orange County Region as their leaders. Though Kyle has remained a Cleveland Cavalier fan resisting the Lakers’ resurgence, he has become a very close friend and dear son in the faith! I am so looking forward to being “partners in the gospel” with Kyle in the Islands and throughout the Pacific Rim.) KM

“My righteousness draws near speedily, my salvation is on the way, and my arm will bring justice to the nations. The islands will look to me and wait in hope for my arm.” Isaiah 51:5

In this prophecy of Isaiah, we learn that it is and has always been God’s heart to bring His righteousness, hope and salvation to the nations! God’s heart for the nations is reflected in many other passages such as Acts 1:8 – the command to take the gospel to the “ends of the earth”; Acts 2:39 – the promise that the gospel message would reach “all who are far off” (Gentiles); and perhaps most familiar, Matthew 28:19 – God’s command “to baptize… the nations”! Since I was born and raised in Hawaii, the most exciting aspect of Isaiah’s prophecy is that God’s arm will extend out even to “the Islands”!

Kyle and Joan on their wedding day!

When I was baptized as a disciple on July 29, 2001 through the efforts of the Hilo International Church of Christ (ICOC), I was blown away by the commitment, passion and love that I saw in each and every disciple. What inspired me most was the dream that each disciple shared to evangelize the Islands, the Pacific Rim and ultimately the world in their generation. In 2001, there were about 60 disciples in Hilo, 75 in Maui and around 1,000 in Oahu – every disciple believed this dream was possible, and so did I. 

Sadly, in November 2002 after the ICOC leadership’s decision to return to a more mainline Church of Christ theology, as well as the advent of the “Kriete letter” in early 2003, so many beloved aspects of “my church” began to change. Gone was a fellowship where every member was a practicing disciple of Jesus. Gone was the deep love for one another through discipling relationships. And gone was the dream to evangelize the Islands and the world.

By 2006, membership was declining at an alarming rate! Oahu dropped from 1,000 disciples to 200; Hilo went from almost 60 disciples to 38; and Maui was reduced from 75 disciples to 25. Oahu went from six full-time couples to two, and both Hilo and Maui went from a full-time couple leading each congregation to untrained volunteers, as vision and then contribution plummeted. Baptisms became extremely rare, restorations were almost non-existent and there had not been a single church planted from the Islands for over six long years. It was obvious to me that something needed to change!

Kyle and his brothers Levi and Evan!

In late 2006, I was asked by the “leadership group” of the Hilo ICOC to be the minister. They were indeed desperate as the Hilo Church had not had a baptism for over a year! Since I was untrained, I was convinced we needed additional help. Therefore, in considering which church to ask for help, I decided to attend the Portland World Missions Jubilee. I was so in awe of God so obviously working through the Portland Church, as the fastest growing church in the ICOC at that time, that I asked Kip and Elena to disciple Joan and me. Thankfully, they agreed.

One month later, the McKeans came to help us rebuild the Hilo Church’s foundation to be composed of only disciples (1 Corinthians 3:10-11). After an eventful weekend of Kip and Elena’s preaching, God left us with a “Gideon-like” twelve disciples, whose dream was to once again evangelize the world in our generation! The other 26 members, many of whom were lukewarm, started a new congregation with the help of evangelists from both the LA ICOC and the Oahu Church of Christ. Not having a baptism for over a year in Hilo, yet starting with twelve sold-out disciples, God blessed us with 20 baptisms that next year! Sadly, yet to the point, the congregation that was started in opposition to Kip’s and my vision of world evangelism through God’s plan of discipling, still has not seen a baptism to this day.

Kyle making two points for UH-Hilo!

Visiting that fateful weekend, during the calling out of the remnant, were Chris Teves and Joe and Mary Santos from Honolulu. Likewise, discouraged by witnessing only five baptisms a year on Oahu, they made the decision that weekend to start a new congregation of only sold-out disciples in Honolulu. Heart-breaking for me, after just one week, Chris Teves under overwhelming pressure from close relationships, decided to give the Oahu Church of Christ another try. Therefore, starting with only Joe and Mary, God has grown the group in Honolulu to 16 disciples!

Most impressive is that four former full-time ministers are now solid members of the remnant group: Joe and Mary Santos, Jody Tyrell (restored in January) and Chris Teves (who recently decided to rejoin us after a failed attempt to reform the existing Oahu Church of Christ).  Dr. Malia (Millard) Emmerich, who was on the original Oahu COC planting back in 1989 is a part of the Honolulu Intl. Christian Church as well.  Truly God is faithful to His promise to gather His remnant, when we repent and begin to seek Him with all our heart (Nehemiah 1:8-9).
After a long talk with Joe and Kip in the summer of 2007, Joan and I decided to move to Los Angeles to receive the training needed to lead the Honolulu Church, which will become the pillar church for the evangelization of the Islands and the Pacific Rim. We borrowed $20,000 from a home equity loan to train full-time. We have been fortunate over the last several months to lead both the Cal State Fullerton Campus Ministry and then recently, the Orange County Region. We will be forever grateful for Kip and Elena, the Comisfords, the Hardings, the Kirchners, the Underhills, the Hernandezs, Vic and Aurora Gonzalez, and many other brothers and sisters who have helped us learn how to be more effective disciples and church builders.

Jody and U’i Tyrell with their three daughters,
Makana, Sera and Gabby!

On Sunday June 1, the Honolulu Mission Team will be sent off by the Holy Spirit from the City of Angels Church to join the remnant group in Honolulu! The Honolulu Mission Team includes four incredible young men in Albert Wagers, Lorenzo Prueitt, Josh Aguirre, David Rysdet and three awesome young women in Joy Axelson of Maui, Naveh Pilate of Honolulu, and “CL” Salamanca, and of course, Joan and me. The Inaugural Service of the Honolulu International Christian Church will be held the following Sunday June 8, 2008 at 10 am at Maunakea Chapel, 1330 Maunakea Street! It is at the corner of Maunakea and Vineyard across from Zippy’s.  We would like to invite all of you who still believe in the dream to evangelize the Islands of Hawaii to join us!

This is not a matter of salvation if you are a faithful disciple, but joining us will allow us all “to win as many as possible” (1 Corinthians 9:19) through multiplying disciples as a movement of God. Our prayer is that through our efforts God will be glorified by His righteousness, hope and salvation returning to the lost Islands of Hawaii! If you are interested in joining in our efforts please give me a call @ 808-217-3904 or Joan @ 808-271-5577. Aloha!

Kyle Bartholomew
www.honoluluicc.org
kyle@honoluluicc.org

Rick Emmerich’s note.  One can certainly contact me as well for info, and questions about the church.  808 371-6501.  Obviously we’d like to invite you to the service this Sunday the 1st too.