Hawaii Travel Update: The Honolulu Rail Could Have Its Soft Opening In June Or July; Here’s What It Would Mean For Travelers

The Honolulu Rail Line could have a partial or soft opening sometime this summer, Hawaii officials announced recently.

Though the full 19-mile rail line will not be complete until 2031, about 11 miles of it could be open to the public in June or July. Construction originally began almost exactly 12 years ago on February 22nd, 2011.

This would appear to be good news for travelers visiting Hawaii during the peak summer season, offering another option for getting around. However, certain realities will limit the appeal of the rail for tourists, both now and in the future.

The Soft Opening Will Not Include Routes in Honolulu

The first 11-mile segment of the system to open will be from East Kapolei (Kualakai station) to Aloha Stadium (Halawa station) near Pearl Harbor. As seen on the map below, the entirety of this segment is well outside the city of Honolulu, limiting its appeal to visitors looking to use the rail to explore the metro area. There are also no hotels in this area, limiting its appeal almost exclusively to locals.

No Rail Service From the Airport to Waikiki

Indeed, it’s fun to dream about landing at Honolulu Airport, jumping on the train, and arriving at your hotel in Waikiki, all via fast and easy public transportation.

But the soft opening will be several spots west of the Honolulu Airport, meaning it the airport station will not be operational this summer.

And, once it is open, access to Waikiki still won’t be as straightforward as one might wish. The final stop on the rail will be the Ala Moana Center on the outskirts of Waikiki. Walking will be possible for some hotels (Ala Moana Honolulu, Prince Waikiki), but very few, especially with luggage.

Even when the rail is fully open, it seems it will be easier for most people to take a cab from the airport to their hotel directly rather than use two forms of transportation to arrive – but we will see.

Unreliable Timetable

While it’s exciting to hear that the rail could open this summer, we’ve also heard it before. The soft opening was previously predicted to begin as far back as 2017, and most recently in 2020 and 2022. So, cross your fingers for this summer, but certainly don’t place any bets.