The controversy over the rail line was the dominant issue for local politics leading into the 2008 Honolulu elections .
The controversy over the rail line culminated in a city charter amendment which left the final decision to a direct vote of the citizens of Oahu .
The controversy over the rail line was the dominant issue for local politics leading into the 2008 Honolulu elections , and culminated in a city charter amendment which left the final decision to a direct vote of the citizens of Oahu .