The vacant land area from Waipahu to Kapolei is described by UH soil experts as the most valuable agricultural land in Hawaii and possibly the world.
The soil is a type of vertisol and invaluable for agriculture- and unsuitable for housing because "the shrinking and swelling of vertisols can damage buildings and roads, leading to extensive subsidence" -Wikipedia.
UH soil experts say this valuable topsoil must be removed and replaced with coral or material for the land to be suitable for buildings and streets.
The addition of 12,000 homes slated for Ho’opili would totally overwhelm any beneficial effects on traffic of the proposed rail line.