"...nearly half surveyed (48 percent) prefer the additional revenue come from the general excise tax. "

I'm curious as to why everyone is preferring a GET increase? If residents believe that by raising the GET they won't be footing the bill, they are sorely mistaken. A rise in GE tax would only pass the burden on to residents. Companies will not foot the increase on their own, they will pass the burden on to the consumers (most of the time, the increase in pricing will not be proportional to the % increase in tax i.e. you will be paying for the increase and then some).
The state should pursue other options mentioned by Caldwell, including calling on the federal gov. to "pony up" more in contribution's proportionate to the cost increase and calling on the private sector to contribute (see Ala Moana), being that they will be receiving some benefit from the rail.