The Honolulu High Capacity Transit -- otherwise known as "Mass Transit System" -- has been on my mind for a while now. I find myself in having conversations with friends and family about it. I ask, "What do you think about building a train on our island" and the first response is usually, "What are they thinking, we're broke and they want to dig deeper into our pockets?" or "It doesn't make sense, I would still want to drive my car." That's coming from a person who lives on the Leeward side!

If a person living in Waianae or Nanakuli catches the train into town, they will have to drive their car to the train’s first stop, and then find parking at the station lot parking. They will probably have to pay to park there because nothing comes free. Then they will have to wait  for who knows how long and catch the train into town or wherever their destination may be. Now what happens if their job/school is a far walk from the drop off point? Will there be shuttles to take them to their destination? Or will they have to walk all the way? Going home will probably be a little more confusing. Who goes straight home after work? I know I don't. You'd probably want to stop for a bite to eat, or go to a grocery store. What do you do? Walk to a restaurant of your choice, go shopping at the store, and then jump on the train with your bags of groceries? Ride the train back to the Leeward side, jump off and then go to your car? To top it off, you still have to drive back home, getting caught in traffic back to Nanakuli.

As a young mother, working a full-time and part-time job just to survive the system, I can't afford to have extra money taken from me through taxes when I buy everyday essentials. I work just as hard as everyone else to try and get ahead in life. Sometimes I feel as if I have no say about what happens with my earnings. Do I get to put my "two cents" into this train situation? Do the citizens of Hawaii get to put their two cents?

Well, even if we can't vote on mass transit, I'll speak my mind about it, because this train is one of the silliest proposals I have ever heard. I want to let everyone hear my point of view, a "young persons" point of view. When it comes to my opinion, it's very plain and simple: I don't think I'd ever catch that train. I think it would cause confusion and more delay. The roads will still be congested, and everyone will still drive around in there cars.

The beauty and spirit that our island naturally has will be drained from the people and the island itself. When you think of Hawaii, you think of white sandy beaches, beautiful mountain ranges and scenic views. If I came over to Hawaii for a vacation, I would be amazed and disappointed to see beautiful, lush mountains, white sandy beaches and a train! That would be outrageous!

Come on people, will this train really be worth it in the end? What about the hard working citizens on the other side of the island? They get taxed to pay for this transit system. Will they be able to use it? Will we really benefit from it? Will we really use it as a source of transportation? I wouldn't, and I doubt others would, either.

Let's try to do all we can to take care what is left of our Aina and keep the natural beauty everlasting!

Are our legislators really using their brains?

Roslynn J. Balles is an administrative assistant and Membership Director at the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii.