If you build it, we will ride

That's what a group of young adults from We Will Ride, a grassroots organization supporting the development of a rail system, announced to elected officials this afternoon during a rally by Go Rail Now supporters and Mayor Mufi Hannemann in the Rotunda of the Capitol.

Jonathan Khil, 19, a Hawaii resident studying at Claremont McKenna College in California, developed the campaign to ensure that the opinions and perspectives of members of Generation Y and Generation Z were being heard. "We have heard what the adults and politicians have to say, but mass transit is an issue that will largely affect the younger generation," reads a description of the campaign on the We Will Ride Facebook group profile page. Since creating a Facebook group two weeks ago, membership has grown to 337 social networkers. Today, the young rail supports just launched their website.

"What kind of Hawaii do we want to inherit? We want it cleaner and greener, full of jobs, and traffic-free. We want paradise," they emphasize on Facebook.

Also in attendance to support the groups initiatives were several House and Senate members, including Reps Say, Mizuno, Rhoads, Lee, Manahan, M. Oshiro, Chong and Brower and Sens. Espero and Gabbard.

Grooving to the beats of Quad City DJ's "C'mon 'n Ride The Train," many of the lawmakers choo chooed their way to the streets and sign waved with rail supporters.

Photo (top): Youth supporters of rail and members of We Will Ride address the crowd at the Go Rail Now rally at the State Capitol.

Photo (bottom): Rep. Marcus Oshiro stands on Beretania Ave. in front of the State Capitol waving signs with supporters of rail.

Update: Rep. Marilyn Lee pointed out that I had made a mistake in naming the lawmakers who attended the rail rally. Rep. Evans was listed as attending the rally, but it was actually Rep. Marilyn Lee who joined other lawmakers in addressing the crowd and sign waiving on Beretania Avenue.