During his first few days on the job, city rail project chief executive officer Daniel Grabauskas this week promised to do away with the coloring books and glossy brochures extolling the virtues of the $5.2 billion project and to instead focus on one-on-one discussions with the community.

That "boots-on-the-ground" effort began Friday when Grabauskas and about a dozen Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transit employees descended on Waipahu, where utility relocation work in anticipation of the rail line has already been under way along Farrington Highway.

"I told folks in the office that I wanted to get out of the office," Grabauskas said. "I need to listen to folks and understand what they’ve heard about the project and make sure they’ve got all the information."

He added: "I think one of the things that’s been lacking is a robust communication with people. I think that people deserve that the top person be out and about as much as possible. I want people to feel like they can call on me and that they can talk to me, tell me what their fears and concerns might be, as well as what their hopes and aspirations are for this project. Good neighbors talk."

At Waipahu High School, on the Diamond Head end of town, Grabauskas told a group of students that they would likely be the first ones to benefit from rail.

"We think that if you can rise above the traffic and put a train, you out here will be able to get to the jobs in the future without having to have to sit in traffic for one hour, two hours, and pay $5 (a gallon) for gas," Grabauskas said. "We look forward to giving you the best train anywhere in the world to ride, and it will take you to school, it will take you to jobs."

After the brief session with Grabauskas, several Waipahu students said they still have concerns about the project like some of the grown-ups they know.

Senior Anthony Yarborough, 17, was one of the few students in the room to have used a train, traveling from Syracuse to New York City and back.

For many people, including him, it will take time to give up the freedom and independence of driving one’s own vehicle, said Yarborough, who lives in the Honowai section of Waipahu. "A lot of people just like the privacy, they don’t like sitting around other people," he said. "And people like the fact that they can get out of their house and into their car when they want to."

Junior Connie Kim, 17, said she’s lived in Japan, where rail is a way of life, and is excited the technology is coming to Waipahu.

"It really works well over there, I’m just wondering if it’s going to be the same," she said.

Kim, a Kunia resident, said she wants to know how the cost of riding rail will compare with other modes of transportation. Additionally, "I want to know how they’re going to keep the trains clean," she said, noting that city buses are often the target of vandals.

Grabauskas and his staff then visited two popular Waipahu restaurants to assure their owners that they will be on hand to listen to any concerns they may have.

"When construction starts, there’ll be disruption of traffic and things like that, and even though a lot of it will be off-hours and at night … we’re going to make sure the public knows they’re still open for business and they can get through for their shopping. I just want to make sure we’re a good neighbor during construction and that we’re a good neighbor when we’re built."

Justin Tanioka, general manager of Tanioka’s Seafoods & Catering, said his family is hopeful the project helps the community flourish. Tanioka said he’s also hopeful the influx of construction workers to the area will boost business.

At Zippy’s, on the Ewa end of town, Grabauskas met with the chain’s president, Paul Yokota.

Yokota said Zippy’s has already made plans to renovate the Waipahu restaurant but decided to expand the scope of the renovation in anticipation of increased business due to rail development.

"We completely renovated the fast-food area and we renovated the restaurant side to grow with the area as well," Yokota said. "I think the rail offers the opportunity for the Waipahu area to continue its growth and development."