Rail dig uncovers human bone near Nimitz

The archaeological survey for the $5.26 billion rail project has uncovered another human bone in an excavation at the edge of Chinatown, according to the city and the chairwoman of the Oahu Island Burial Council.

The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation reported the find was made on Nov. 1 along with subsurface architectural remnants and cultural materials.

Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu, chairwoman of the burial council, said the bone was a portion of the foot, and was discovered in one of two trenches dug in a parking lot along the rail route near Nimitz Highway and Kekaulike Street.

Also found in the trenches were glass, shells, rusted pipe and concrete, she said.

Workers conducting the survey for the 20-mile rail line have so far discovered remains believed to have come from five people at four sites, including one intact burial under a sidewalk near Keawe and Halekauwila streets.

Daniel Grabauskas, executive director of HART, said the survey work is ahead of schedule, and the city now expects to complete trenching by the end of the year.

"We continue to work closely with the State Historic Preservation Division, the Oahu Island Burial Council and other stakeholders to ensure that iwi kupuna are treated with sensitivity and great respect," he said. "In addition, we have added cultural monitors who include descendants with ties to the area where the work is being done."

Wong-Kalu is one of those monitors, and was present at the site at the time of the find to observe the activities of the crews.

The work has emerged as a critical component of the project after the Hawaii Supreme Court ruled on Aug. 24 that the city should have completed the archaeological survey along the entire rail route before beginning construction.

That decision stopped all construction on the project, and prompted the city to dramatically step up the pace of the survey work. Crews now work nights and weekends on the excavations, and Grabau­skas reported that as of mid-October there were fewer than 100 trenches to be completed.

The city has estimated that each month of construction delays costs $7 million to $10 million in delay claims and other expenses.