Few heads turned yesterday during a demonstration by Stop Rail Now in Chinatown aimed at replicating the noise level of the city's planned rail transit system.

The group pumped sound through two large stereo speakers mounted atop a pickup truck bed and drove up and down the streets of Chinatown. The sound was a recording of Vancouver, British Columbia's mass transit system so Honolulu residents could hear what it might be like when the city completes the 20-mile elevated commuter line from Kapolei to Ala Moana.

"I didn't notice anything," said Holly Lacy, a North Shore resident in town to attend the monthly First Friday art tour in Chinatown. "I only heard the buses and they were loud."

Every first Friday of the month, art galleries, restaurants and stores remain open from 5 to 9 p.m. in Downtown and Chinatown to feature exhibits and free entertainment.

As people walked and talked and buses traveled up and down the street, Stop Rail Now volunteers passed out fliers.

Volunteer Lois Zygowicz said about 100 fliers were passed out last night.

"I saw the truck pass me twice, but I didn't see anyone stop and notice," Zygowicz said. "There was a lot of music and noise. It was a little disappointing.

"I expected to hear a roar. Maybe when it's quieter."

Stop Rail Now is trying to build public opposition to a proposed Honolulu charter amendment on the Nov. 4 ballot. Voters will be asked to vote on the question, "Shall the powers, duties and functions of the city, through its director of transportation services, include establishment of a steel wheel on steel rail transit system?"

The group's own proposed ordinance to ban rail transit was rejected. The group has criticized the City Council's charter amendment question, saying it doesn't prohibit the city from proceeding with rail transit regardless of the vote outcome.

During yesterday's demonstration, Stop Rail Now said it played the Vancouver train sounds at a level equivalent to actually being there.

"Because it's First Friday, we thought we'd get a good crowd there," said Cliff Slater, a retired businessman and leader of Stop Rail Now. "The city keeps talking about how quiet it is. Our sound engineers tell us it's not quiet at all."

Wayne Yoshioka, city Department of Transportation Services director, said noise is a nonissue because when the city's plans go before federal transportation officials for review and projected noise levels are too high, mitigation measures will be required.

"We don't think the noise level portrayed is accurate," Yoshioka said. "If it comes out that the rail system is so loud, then we'll have to mitigate the noise with barriers or other measures.

"The bottom line is we'll comply."

Mayor Mufi Hannemann hopes to start construction on the rail project in late 2009 or early 2010. The project is expected to cost an inflation-adjusted $5 billion and take nearly a decade to complete all phases.

It will be the largest public works project in state history and will have major environmental, social and economic impacts.

Also yesterday, the pro-rail group Go Rail Go opened its campaign headquarters at 1144 Bethel St., which is under Marks Garage.