"But local economist Paul Brewbaker said the monetary savings of abandoning the project doesn’t take into account how such a move would derail Honolulu’s efforts to achieve higher urban density and improved urban mobility, and would further discourage companies from investing in Hawaii"

Again, rail was first touted for traffic decongestion, then for affordable housing, but it's  really for TOD - Transit Oriented Development - for corporations to develop in Hawaii. It may sound okay from a business standpoint but Oahu is a small island. 

What about the small private mom-and-pop property owners along the Honolulu Rail Corridor? Will the city/state abuse its powers of eminent domain to pave the way for bigger private corporate development? When will the public know about this little secret of Honolulu Rail?

The  Rail powers-that-be acted intransigently to railroad this project.  They grossly UNDER-estimated the projected costs, KNOWING they could blackmail Oahu into this present stage.