Separate resolutions were passed through the City Council approving the name changes, and $7,000 was appropriated in the city budget last year for the two plaques. But, Wai'anae Neighborhood Board chairwoman Cynthia Rezentes said, nothing has happened since then.

Rezentes called the city Department of Design and Construction in August and was told the project is on hold and would have to be completed by the administration of the mayor who would succeed Jeremy Harris.

"I was told they were concentrating on projects with fiscal year '03 money," she said. "They were under a crunch and they couldn't deal with these two plaques. This does not sit well with me. I thought once I got it in the budget, I could get it done in 2004. I was told no.

"I'd like to see them be scheduled as soon as possible. I'd like to see both those facilities spruced up and ceremonies put in place as soon as possible for these families. These families are not getting any younger."

Bill Brennan, spokesman for the new mayor, Mufi Hannemann, said Hannemann is not yet familiar with the situation and has no comment at this point.

Anita Korenaga is Nakamine's sister and accepted the medal in his memory in 2000. Korenaga said it is important for children along the coast to know about the sacrifices of the people who came before them and to have someone from their own community they can look up to.

"They are heroes," Korenaga said of all three medal recipients. "They were so humble about the whole thing. The story should be told about what they felt about the country and want they went through. They were local boys."

Korenaga isn't sure why it is taking so long to have the plaques installed, but she is very proud of her brother and the community.

"We have good people here," she said. "It's too bad we don't have too much publicity for the heroes and the good citizens here."

Rezentes said what is especially frustrating is that Harris during his last month as mayor hung about two dozen similar sized plaques commemorating his own public works projects.

"I think that we should honor people for what they have done versus putting up a building," said Rezentes. "That is much more important."

Former city spokeswoman Carol Costa last week said the city will install the plaques for the Medal of Honor recipients, but could not say when or why it is taking so long.

She also relayed via e-mail a comment from Ben Lee, city managing director under Harris, about the 16-by-20-inch plaques commemorating the mayor's public works: "Ben says the plaques cost $890 each and there are less than two dozen." That totals about $20,000.

The plaques list the mayor, the managing director, the City Council members who approved money for the project, the consultant who planned it, and the contractor who built it. Plaques were recently installed at the Waipahu District Park Gym and Recreation Complex, the Chinatown police substation, and the Smith-Beretania Park and about 20 other locations.

Costa said putting up plaques is a common practice and other city mayors have installed similar markers at Honolulu Hale, Kapolei Hale and the Blaisdell Center.

Rezentes said Harris was not elected for the purpose of putting up plaques to perpetuate his legacy.

"I think it is kind of silly that we are putting up all these other plaques and here we are with money budgeted (for these two) and doing nothing," she said.

City Councilwoman Ann Kobayashi said plaques for completion of city projects are a waste of taxpayer money and the council may have to look at setting standards for city plaques.

"Putting in a park, that is our duty to do that," Kobayashi said. "It is like fixing a sewer — you wouldn't put a plaque up every time you put in a new sewer line. It's just as important for the city, but it is our duty to do that."

Former City Councilman Gary Gill, who has been named on some of the new plaques put up by Harris, was never on the council when Harris was mayor.

Gill led a council effort to change city law when then-Mayor Frank Fasi placed his own name on city construction signs.

"The point of having a sign up there is to provide information, useful information to the taxpayers who are wondering what is going on and how much it is costing and what it is going to be," Gill said. "Not for an individual politician to be recognized or campaign."

Rezentes said about 45,000 people live on the Wai'anae coast, but during World War II and the Korean War there were only about 10,000 residents and three have earned the country's highest honor for their bravery.

"It is a pretty damn high percentage," Rezentes said. "The people from Wai'anae know what their duty is.

"That goes for today, too. We have a number of family members that are serving in harm's way right now."

Rezentes said the parents of the medal recipients have died and the siblings are getting older, so finishing the project soon is critical. She said a dedication ceremony has to be carefully planned to allow relatives from the Mainland to attend and the lack of progress has left everything up in the air.

"Now I have to go back to the family and say maybe next spring," Rezentes said.