SLIDESHOW: Honolulu Rail Is Still Off Track 11 Years After Groundbreaking - Honolulu Civil Beat

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Slideshows

SLIDESHOW: Honolulu Rail Is Still Off Track 11 Years After Groundbreaking

The original plan called for 20 miles of rail and 21 stations with trains traveling from East Kapolei to Ala Moana Center, but it's falling short.
By Cory Lum / April 7, 2022
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  • <p>Then-Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa, left, and Sens. Daniel Akaka, center, and Daniel Inouye attended a ceremonial groundbreaking in Kapolei for the Honolulu rail project on Feb. 22, 2011.</p>
    Ceremonial groundbreaking

    Then-Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa, left, and Sens. Daniel Akaka, center, and Daniel Inouye attended a ceremonial groundbreaking in Kapolei for the Honolulu rail project on Feb. 22, 2011.

    Civil Beat Archives
  • <p>A rail column stands tall as construction of the first segment of the Honolulu light rail project continued in 2014 despite early challenges from lawsuits and safety concerns.</p>
    Rail Column

    A rail column stands tall as construction of the first segment of the Honolulu light rail project continued in 2014 despite early challenges from lawsuits and safety concerns.

    PF Bentley/Civil Beat/2014
  • <p>Concrete columns tower above farmland that later was razed to make way in 2014 for rail and new housing being built in West Oahu.</p>
    Farmland

    Concrete columns tower above farmland that later was razed to make way in 2014 for rail and new housing being built in West Oahu.

    Anita Hofschneider/Civil Beat/2014
  • <p>The city expects to collect some $9.8 billion in total revenues to build rail, and it thinks that will get the line as far as Kakaako. It will have to find more funding to keep going.</p>
    Tracks

    The city expects to collect some $9.8 billion in total revenues to build rail, and it thinks that will get the line as far as Kakaako. It will have to find more funding to keep going.

    Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2015
  • <p>Consultants for the FTA have kept tabs on Honolulu’s rail project, including as construction of the rail guideway snaked through Waipahu on Farrington Highway.</p>
    Rail guideway

    Consultants for the FTA have kept tabs on Honolulu’s rail project, including as construction of the rail guideway snaked through Waipahu on Farrington Highway.

    Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2015
  • <p>Public patience already was wearing thin as Honolulu officials urged the Legislature in 2015 to extend the state general excise tax and generate billions of additional dollars for the city rail project. Here, the rail guideway construction progresses near a cemetery in Aiea near Pearl Harbor in 2016.</p>
    Cemetery

    Public patience already was wearing thin as Honolulu officials urged the Legislature in 2015 to extend the state general excise tax and generate billions of additional dollars for the city rail project. Here, the rail guideway construction progresses near a cemetery in Aiea near Pearl Harbor in 2016.

    Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2016
  • <p>Confetti flies as guests celebrate the arrival of the first train on island at the Rail Operations Center in May 2016.</p>
    First train arrives

    Confetti flies as guests celebrate the arrival of the first train on island at the Rail Operations Center in May 2016.

    Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2016
  • <p>A HART train decal on train Number 1 shows the final stop at Ala Moana Center in May 2016. Mayor Rick Blangiardi proposed last month that the future transit line be trimmed from 20 miles to 18.75 miles and that its two easternmost stations be eliminated.</p>
    Train decal

    A HART train decal on train Number 1 shows the final stop at Ala Moana Center in May 2016. Mayor Rick Blangiardi proposed last month that the future transit line be trimmed from 20 miles to 18.75 miles and that its two easternmost stations be eliminated.

    Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2016
  • <p>An aerial view of the rail guideway as it snakes thru Kapolei near agriculture land in 2016. The area at the top of the photograph was the future site of the Hoopili community. Kualakai parkway runs center of the frame to the top of the H2 freeway.</p>
    Aerial view

    An aerial view of the rail guideway as it snakes thru Kapolei near agriculture land in 2016. The area at the top of the photograph was the future site of the Hoopili community. Kualakai parkway runs center of the frame to the top of the H2 freeway.

    Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2016
  • <p>Rail cars being tested on the elevated guideway above Farrington Highway by HART in May 2017.</p>
    Rail cars

    Rail cars being tested on the elevated guideway above Farrington Highway by HART in May 2017.

    Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2017
  • <p>A small scaled model of a HART rail car sits at a display at the Verge Conference held at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in 2018.</p>
    Display

    A small scaled model of a HART rail car sits at a display at the Verge Conference held at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in 2018.

    Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2018
  • <p>Prefabricated sections of the rail guideway are stored along Kalaeloa Boulevard in 2019.</p>
    Prefab sections

    Prefabricated sections of the rail guideway are stored along Kalaeloa Boulevard in 2019.

    Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2019
  • <p>A rail worker stands at the Waipahu rail station during a 2019 tour of multiple stations along the train route.</p>
    2019 tour

    A rail worker stands at the Waipahu rail station during a 2019 tour of multiple stations along the train route.

    Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2019
  • <p>Workers atop tall rail guideway columns near the Daniel K. Inouye Airport in 2019.</p>
    Workers

    Workers atop tall rail guideway columns near the Daniel K. Inouye Airport in 2019.

    Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2019
  • <p>Rail guideway and columns being built near Ualena Street as rail heads toward downtown Honolulu in December 2020.</p>
    Middle Street

    Rail guideway and columns being built near Ualena Street as rail heads toward downtown Honolulu in December 2020.

    Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2020
  • <p>A driverless train undergoes testing along the guideway near Leeward Community College and the Rail Operations Center in 2021.</p>
    Train travels

    A driverless train undergoes testing along the guideway near Leeward Community College and the Rail Operations Center in 2021.

    Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2021
  • <p>Ongoing construction of the rail station near the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport.</p>
    Airport construction

    Ongoing construction of the rail station near the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport.

    Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2021
  • <p>A rail pedestrian bridge being built over the eastern edge of Dillingham Boulevard last year as rail moved toward Honolulu’s urban core.</p>
    Moving on

    A rail pedestrian bridge being built over the eastern edge of Dillingham Boulevard last year as rail moved toward Honolulu’s urban core.

    Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2021
  • <p>HART rail guideway construction rolls toward Middle Street and Dillingham Boulevard in 2021.</p>
    Airport signs

    HART rail guideway construction rolls toward Middle Street and Dillingham Boulevard in 2021.

    Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2021
  • <p>Rail Guideway columns being built near the Oahu Community Correctional Center along Dillingham Boulevard in 2022.</p>
    Construction

    Rail Guideway columns being built near the Oahu Community Correctional Center along Dillingham Boulevard in 2022.

    Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2022

After years of criticism and delays, Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi has proposed ending the rail line near Halekauwila and South streets instead of its long-planned terminus at Ala Moana Center. That would leave the system with 19 stations instead of 21.

The project was forecast to cost over $5 billion when Hawaii’s best-known dignitaries gathered for a ceremonial groundbreaking and blessing in February 2011. Local rail officials now say the full 20-mile, 21-station line is expected to cost over $11 billion.

Blangiardi said the shorter line might be completed in May 2029 instead of the current 2031 estimate, but that plan needs approval from the Federal Transit Administration.

About the Author

  • Cory Lum
    Cory Lum
    Cory Lum was the chief photographer for Civil Beat.
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