The Skyline metro rail system started running its first segment from East Kapolei to Aloha Stadium six months ago and officials say they would like the ridership numbers to be higher. 

Honolulu Department of Transportation Services Deputy Director Jon Nouchi discussed Skyline’s ridership numbers during a Stadium Authority meeting Thursday morning.

“Although we’d like it to be higher, it has stabilized,” said Nouchi. 

On weekdays, an average of about 3,200-3,300 people ride the Skyline. Nouchi said there is a bump on Wednesdays when the Aloha Stadium hosts the swap meet with about 3,500-3,700 riders. About 2,300 people ride the Skyline on Saturdays and a little over 2,000 people ride on Sundays. On major holidays, about 1,200 people use the Skyline.  

Skyline opened with much fanfare on June 30, when the Honolulu Department of Services offered five fare-free days to riders. During the free days, between 8,942 riders and 18,108 riders got on the Skyline. 

But in the first five days of regular fare operations, the numbers dropped significantly to between 3,203 to 4,312 riders. 

The second segment of the Skyline, which will run from Makalapa Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam station to the Kalihi Transit Center station, is scheduled to open 2025. This will include a stop at the Honolulu airport, which officials expect to increase ridership. 

The Skyline’s third segment, which will take it to Kakaako, won’t be completed until 2031. 

Brian McInnis contributed reporting to this story.