HONOLULU — It’s official: The Honolulu rail transit system will begin operation on June 30, Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi announced on Wednesday.
“This is truly a momentous and historic day for the island of Oahu,” Blangiardi said. “Today’s announcement marks the culmination of decades of hard work, perseverance and overcoming difficult challenges of every kind. We are all excited for the public to experience first-hand the transformative effect the rail will have for our island home.”
An opening day celebration featuring dignitaries and entertainment is planned for the Halawa rail station prior to the 2 p.m. start of service — a moment many skeptics said would never come.
“With today’s announcement, we are turning the page on the largest public works project in Hawaii’s history,” Blangiardi said. “On June 30, 2023, beginning at 2 p.m., residents who have been waiting for so long, will finally have the opportunity to board these beautiful trains and ride them for the very first time.”
Initial service will be limited to Phase 1 of the project, an 11-mile stretch between the Kualakai Station in East Kapolei and the Halawa Station near Aloha Stadium. The route will continue to expand east as additional stations are added over the coming years.
All rides on the new system will be free from 2 p.m. on June 30 through the final run on July 4. TheBus will also be waiving fares for all riders between July 1 and 4.
On opening day, rail passengers may tour any of the nine stations that will be open for service and ride on any train, in either direction, free of charge. Fare gates at all nine stations will be open to all riders until service ends at 6 p.m. that evening.
Beginning on July 1, the first full day of rail service, passengers must have a valid HOLO card in order to take advantage of the free fare. Riders will be required to tap their HOLO cards at fare gates to enter individual stations, but fares will not be deducted from those cards.
Adult HOLO cards can be purchased at local retailers, rail station ticket vending machines at the entrance of each rail station, or TheBus Pass Office. A list of retailers is available at holocard.net. Senior, disabled and youth riders can apply for a reduced-fare HOLO card at TheBus Pass Office at the Kalihi Transit Center (thebus.org for application requirements).
HOLO cards, the fare-payment method used by TheBus, will serve as the primary payment method for rail.
“The history behind our rail system is more than 50 years in the making,” Department of Transportation Services director Roger Morton said. “The start of passenger service for our first segment of the rail line means a lot to not only myself, but for the entire City and County of Honolulu, and Oahu.”
Park-and-ride facilities are available at the Halawa Station, Keoneae Station at the University of Hawaii-West Oahu and Honouliuli Station at Hoopili.
Michael Tsai covers local and state politics for Spectrum News Hawaii.
