More than 100 street-level systems function safely and efficiently all over the world  including 24 in America, and yet HART blindly rejects it without proper consideration.  HART objects that “people have to cross in front of the train” along with other false claims, such as a track taking two or three lanes, when it only takes one.  
The whole point of street level is that pedestrians can safely interact with the system, with lines that run right into the heart of our urban center, with easy boarding that encourages use.  It would do great things for our urban quality of life, as we have seen in increasing number of systems worldwide, without destroying the beauty of downtown. As one who opposed the elevated plan for decades, I see street level as the perfect compromise. 
It will save money, be finished sooner with less destruction, and provide a more useful system, while healing the civil war that HART has waged with our community, bringing peace to Honolulu.