At a presentation yesterday at the state Capitol, Prevedouros acknowledged some difficulties in getting parts of the plan implemented, such as finding funding and getting permission from the Navy.

Money collected from the general excise tax that's earmarked for the city's rail project is prohibited from being used for HOT lanes. Prevedouros said some legislators are trying to get that restriction lifted.

Prevedouros was the only member of a panel of city-appointed experts in February to go against recommending steel- wheel-and-rail technology as the best choice for Honolulu's planned $3.7 billion elevated commuter line.

Following yesterday's briefing, Mayor Mufi Hannemann blasted Prevedouros and the subjects of his study.

"It's all political with Panos," Hannemann said. "These are all old ideas that have been studied before and have not been able to generate any momentum and support. The big question is the lack of a funding source. You can't unilaterally move the GET (tax) and Panos knows that."

The city was unable to use Iroquois Point for its commuter ferry program called TheBoat, Hannemann said. Proposals for a Pearl Harbor vehicle ferry and underground Pearl Harbor tunnel would face similar obstacles, Hannemann said.

"It's very problematic given national security concerns," he said. "This is just another desperate attempt by Panos to try and thwart a fixed-guideway system. He's going against the grain of what most cities are trying to do."

Hannemann said nonrail options lack opportunities for economic development at rail stations.

"With a fixed guideway," Hannemann said, "we can have commercial, retail, housing, park space and bike lanes."