HONOLULU — The nine stations comprising the first segment of the Skyline metro rail system opened Friday during a grand opening celebration held at the Halawa station.

Mayor Rick Blangiardi, Gov. Josh Green, Sen. Brian Schatz, Meredith Berger, assistant secretary of the Navy, Colleen Hanabusa, HART board chair, Yutaka Aoloa, Consul General of Japan in Honolulu, and Lori Kahikina, executive director and CEO for HART, all welcomed the crowd of dignitaries and officials who gathered for the grand opening.

Following a maile lei ceremony, remarks by officials, hula and music by the Royal Hawaiian Band — who were joined by Honolulu City Council member Andria Tupola for the National Anthem and Hawaii Pono‘i — dignitaries embarked on the inaugural Skyline rides.

The public is invited to ride Skyline for free all Independence Day weekend.

From 2 p.m. Friday, riders may board Skyline from any of the nine stations of the west end segment from Kualakai East Kapolei to Halawa Aloha Stadium Skyline Station. No HOLO card is needed for Friday, June 30, rides. DTA asks that all riders arrive by 6 p.m.

Skyline will begin normal operating hours on Saturday, July 1, from 8 a.m.-7 p.m. on weekends and holidays, and 5 a.m.-7 p.m. on weekdays.

For Independence Day weekend (July 1-4), transit on Skyline, TheBus and TheHandi-Van will be free with a HOLO card. Passengers will need to present their HOLO card upon boarding; however, no fare will be deducted from the card.

New and modified routes for TheBus will also begin on Saturday, July 1. Go to thebus.org for details.

Lianne Bidal Thompson is the digital producer for Spectrum News Hawaii. She writes about community and general news.