Railroading Paradise

Infrastructure planning on the Hawaiian island of Oahu is the subject of this documentary by filmmakers Anthony Aalto and Mike Hinchey that covers an astonishingly wide spectrum of subjects, ranging from ecology to income inequality to civil rights to political lobbying to urban sprawl. Oahu's expanding population has created excruciating traffic jams that bring this automobile-dependent island to a daily standstill. One possible solution is the creation of a rail project that would offer a mass transit alternative to driving. But finding the right route creates major problems, and a long-defunct rail line cannot be resurrected because it runs through a national historic district. While advocates of the rail project insist that it will benefit those with limited or no access to automobiles—especially the elderly—opponents claim that it will damage the Oahu ecosystem and result in the loss of vital agricultural land that lies in the heart of the plan's trajectory. Even the local Sierra Club is divided over this debate, with part of its leadership circle in favor and others vehemently opposed. Despite the underlying issues, however, Railroading Paradise quickly devolves into a grueling and tiresome tug-of-war that suggests that even paradise is not immune from the irritating rancor of stubborn people. A strong optional purchase. Aud: C, P. (P. Hall)