In some ways it is fitting that the first really major obstacle in front of Honolulu’s still-not-built rail system is Dillingham Boulevard.

The road was renamed in 1930 to remember Benjamin F. Dillingham, builder of Hawaii’s first railroad, the Oahu Railway and Land Co.

Recent reports now have city officials in nervous, wide-eyed horror as they review Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation plans for running the rail line down Dillingham, with both traffic and construction running.

The 2-mile stretch between Iwilei and Middle streets is a mostly congested, four-lane tight fit of urban roadway in industrial Honolulu.

City officials estimate about 10,000 live along its sides. HART wants to slap the hulking, concrete, elevated rail line down the middle of the street while still allowing traffic on the boulevard.

Calling it traffic is a misnomer because “traffic” is defined as “vehicles moving on a road or public highway,” and if HART tries to build rail and insists that Dillingham remain open, no vehicles will be moving down that road. Vehicles will probably also not be moving down any adjacent roads, including Kokea, Alakawa, Waiakamilo or Puuhale.

Reports have already mentioned the problems that the Blood Bank Hawaii has with the looming construction, but Dillingham is also home to hundreds of mom-and-pop stores that are the very bedrock of Honolulu: Family Service Auto Repair, Gold Coin Foods, Wet Okole Car Seats, Eki Cyclery, Dillingham Saimin and Bob’s Bar-B-Que.

There also are churches, public schools and shopping centers all depending on public access via Dillingham.

Even Honolulu’s biggest rail booster, Mayor Kirk Caldwell, whose insistence on rail borders on the delusional, told HART that its plan is “not acceptable in its current form.”

Caldwell, in a report in Civil Beat, said: “The plan needs a lot more work, in particular regarding the impact utility relocation … will have on businesses and residents.”

Honolulu architect and rail critic Scott Wilson said HART’s initial briefing to city officials “is an example of HART trying to get out in front of a problem and yet not looking too far forward as to create major opposition to the project.

“The construction plans claim to be for the Middle Street-to-Ala Moana section, yet where are the details for the route after Dillingham Blvd. — i.e., Iwilei, Chinatown, Downtown, Capitol District, Kakaako?” Wilson said. “If the details for the Dillingham corridor are lacking, can you imagine how sparse they are for the rest of the 4-mile route, including impacts to historic districts and historic landmarks?”

A HART spokesman said after the meeting with city officials that new plans are in the works.

“The preliminary plan, which is still being drafted, is also aimed at completing the work as quickly as possible, so as to further minimize the impact to the community,” the statement read.

Two miles of Kalihi thoroughfare is not the biggest of campaign issues, but voters need to know the mayoral candidates’ plans, and they should be in more detail than some cliche about, “We trust HART to do the right thing and to be held accountable.”

Candidates should say whether or not the rail should go down Dillingham, whether or not Dillingham will remain open, how the city will run traffic during construction, and also calculations for how much it will cost. Will businesses be compensated?

Empty campaign promises will not work in Kalihi.

Richard Borreca writes on politics on Sundays. Reach him at 808onpolitics@gmail.com.