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Ridership commences on Honolulu’s rail system

Honolulu’s first rail passengers arrived on Friday to experience what Hawaii’s largest public works project ever has produced.

By Jamm Aquino and Cindy Ellen Russell

June 30, 2023

Hawaii Photos

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CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARADVERTISER.COM

People wait for the train at the Halawa-Aloha Stadium station platform at the grand opening of Skyline on Friday.
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Waianae resident Jon Stremel, left, points out places of interest with sons Calvin, 7, middle, and Dacian, 12, during the inaugural run of Honolulu’s rail system on Friday in Kapolei.
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Mililani resident Scott Casey, left, and Kailua resident Sharlyn Upton take in the view on the eastbound Skyline train from UH West Oahu on Friday.
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People take video and wait for Skyline at the Halawa-Aloha Stadium station during the grand opening held on Friday.
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Passengers help 82-year-old Waipahu resident Larry Inouye after a fall aboard the eastbound Skyline train.
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Passengers take in the sights aboard the eastbound Skyline train.
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People enter the Halawa-Aloha Stadium station platform at the grand opening of Skyline on Friday.
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Passengers take in the sights from the rear car of a westbound Skyline train as it leaves the Pearlridge station.
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A HOLO kiosk at the Halawa-Aloha Stadium station.
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A view of Waipahu from a westbound Skyline train on Friday.
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People gather outside the UH West Oahu Skyline station.
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The queue at the Halawa-Aloha Stadium station, at the intersection of Salt Lake Boulevard and Kamehameha Highway, about 40 minutes before the opening of Skyline on Friday.
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An employee unwraps HOLO cards to be handed out at the grand opening of Skyline on Friday.
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Passengers are seen aboard the eastbound Skyline train during the inaugural run of Honolulu’s rail system on Friday.
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Patrick Pruesser, director of rapid transit, uses a bullhorn to address the crowd waiting to board the Skyline at its grand opening at the Halawa-Aloha Stadium station on Friday.
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JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM

A young boy takes in the experience aboard the first Skyline train from UH West Oahu.
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Aiea resident Naomi Motoshige explains how the Skyline trains run to granddaughter Bailey Bento at the Pearlridge Skyline station on Friday.
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A westbound Skyline approaches the Pearlridge station.
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A westbound Skyline train approaches the Pearlridge station.
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A westbound Skyline train leaves the Waipahu station on Friday.
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A westbound Skyline train leaves the Waipahu station on Friday.
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People gather outside the UH West Oahu Skyline station.
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Portable restrooms are seen outside the UH West Oahu Skyline station.
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CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARADVERTISER.COM

Children wave to an oncoming Skyline train at the grand opening on Friday.
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JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM

Cats lounge inside the UH West Oahu Skyline station.
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People wait to enter the Halawa-Aloha Station to ride Skyline at its grand opening on Friday.
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A cat stares into the camera at the UH West Oahu Skyline station.
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People applaud as the gates are opened outside the UH West Oahu Skyline station during the inaugural run of Honolulu’s rail system on Friday.
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CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARADVERTISER.COM

People head to the Halawa-Aloha Stadium station from the parking lot at the grand opening of Skyline on Friday.
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CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARADVERTISER.COM

People queue to enter the Halawa-Aloha Stadium station at the grand opening of Skyline on Friday.
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JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM

People enter the UH West Oahu Skyline station.
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CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARADVERTISER.COM

Ellen Iwai watches over her four-year-old grandson, Caiden Iwai, as he peers out of the Skyline train.
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JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM

People walk through the gates at the UH West Oahu Skyline station.
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The parking lot and a line of riders are seen outside the UH West Oahu Skyline station.
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JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM

Waianae resident Jon Stremel, middle, walks to the train platform with sons Calvin, 7, left, and Dacian, 12, at the UH West Oahu Skyline station.
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CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARADVERTISER.COM

Colleen Hanabusa, board chair of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation, speaks at the grand opening of Skyline on Friday.
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CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARADVERTISER.COM

The HOLO card tap pad at the entrance the Halawa-Aloha Stadium as seen on Friday.
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Seven-year-old Calvin Stremel, left, and brother Dacian, 12, await the train at the UH West Oahu Skyline station.
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JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM

Waianae resident Jon Stremel, middle, walks into the train with son Dacian, 12, left, at the UH West Oahu Skyline station.
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JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM

Passengers are seen aboard the first train to leave the UH West Oahu Skyline station.
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CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARADVERTISER.COM

Mayor Rick Blangiardi speaks at the grand opening of Skyline at the Halawa-Aloha Stadium station on Friday.
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JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM

Waianae resident Jon Stremel, right, points out places of interest with sons Calvin, 7, middle, and Dacian, 12, during the inaugural run of Honolulu’s rail system on Friday.
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CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARADVERTISER.COM

Jon Nouchi, deputy director of the Department of Transportation, recites an oli at the grand opening of Skyline at the Halawa-Aloha Stadium station on Friday.
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JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM

Makaha resident Donna LeStrong, left, takes in the view from the eastbound Skyline train.
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Passengers help 82-year-old Waipahu resident Larry Inouye after a fall aboard the eastbound Skyline train.
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Passengers are seen aboard the eastbound Skyline train.
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Waianae resident Jon Stremel, left, stands with sons Calvin, 7, middle, and Dacian, 12, at the Pearl Highlands station.
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JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM

Passengers are seen at the Pearlridge Skyline station on Friday.
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Four-year-old Bailey Bento stands on the train platform with grandmother Naomi Motoshige on Friday.
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Four-year-old Bailey Bento watches as a westbound Skyline train enters the platform at the Pearlridge station on Friday.
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Passengers take in the sights from the rear car of a westbound Skyline train as it approaches the Leeward Community College station.
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CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARADVERTISER.COM

Paul Skoutelas, president and CEO of the American Public Transportation Association, speaks at the grand opening of Skyline on Friday.
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JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM

An eastbound Skyline train enters the Pearlridge station on Friday.
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Passengers take in the sights from the rear car of a westbound Skyline train as it leaves the Pearlridge station.
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A Skyline station agent tries to rectify a stuck door on a westbound train at the Waipahu station on Friday.
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Passengers take in the sights from the rear car of a westbound Skyline train as it leaves the Leeward Community College station.
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A westbound Skyline train leaves the Waipahu station on Friday.
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A westbound Skyline train leaves the Waipahu station on Friday.
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A view of Fort Weaver Road from onboard a westbound Skyline train.
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An eastbound Skyline train approaches the Waipahu station on Friday.
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Passengers are seen onboard a westbound Skyline train in Waipahu.
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A westbound Skyline train approaches the UH West Oahu station on Friday.
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A full parking lot at the UH West Oahu station is seen on Friday.
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CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARADVERTISER.COM

Jon Nouchi, deputy director of the Department of Transportation, recites an oli at the grand opening of Skyline at the Halawa-Aloha Stadium station on Friday.
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CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARADVERTISER.COM

Government and rail officials untie a maile lei at the grand opening of Skyline at the Halawa-Aloha Stadium station on Friday.
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CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARADVERTISER.COM

Jon Nouchi, deputy director if the Department of Transportation, right, presides over the untying of maile lei at the grand opening of Skyline at the Halawa-Aloha Stadium station on Friday.
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CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARADVERTISER.COM

Guests enter the Halawa-Aloha Stadium station at the grand opening of Skyline on Friday.
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CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARADVERTISER.COM

Councilmember Andria Tupola sang Hawai'i Pono'i with the Royal Hawaiian Band playing at the grand opening of Skyline held at the Halawa-Aloha Stadium station on Friday.
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CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARADVERTISER.COM

Amy Changchien, deputy director with the Federal Transit Administration, Region 9, speaks at the grand opening of Skyline held at the Halawa-Aloha Stadium station on Friday.
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CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARADVERTISER.COM

Yutaka Aoki, Consulate General of Japan in Honolulu, speaks at the grand opening of Skyline on Friday.
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Andrew Robbins, former executive director and CEO of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation, attends the grand opening of Skyline on Friday.
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Gov. Josh Green aboard a Skyline train at the grand opening on Friday.
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A Skyline train heads out from the Halawa-Aloha Stadium station on its grand opening day on Friday.
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Lori Kahikina, executive director and CEO of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation, speaks at the grand opening of Skyline on Friday.
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CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARADVERTISER.COM

Lori Kahikina, executive director and CEO of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation, laughs as she goes to board Skyline at its grand opening on Friday.
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CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARADVERTISER.COM

Patrick Pruesser, director of rapid transit, opens the gate to let in the crowd waiting to ride Skyline at its grand opening at the Halawa-Aloha Stadium station on Friday.
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CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARADVERTISER.COM

People ride Skyline at its grand opening on Friday.
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A man checks out the view at one of the Skyline stations during the grand opening.
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A westbound Skyline approaches the Pearlridge station during the inaugural run of Honolulu’s rail system on Friday.
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Passengers are seen onboard a westbound Skyline train on Friday in Waipahu.

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