The island of Oahu isn’t exactly enormous. You can drive the perimeter of the island in about four to six hours, depending on traffic and the route you take. But if you’ve got some time to spare and are looking to see the island in the slow lane, it may be time to board its historic train.
The Hawaiian Railway Society is keeping the dream of railway travel alive in Hawaii. The nonprofit diligently works to preserve the tracks and trains of the original Oahu Railway and Land Company founded in 1889 by Benjamin Dillingham.
As the society’s website explains, since its founding in the 1970s, it’s been able to get the remaining stretch of track on Oahu on the State and National Registers of Historic Sites and has restored a remarkable 6.5 miles of the track. (And it is working to restore even more.) It has preserved three vintage diesel locomotives that are fully operational, and while it’s also restored several more steam locomotives that may not be operational, visitors can still check them out in the train depot. restored.
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Now, the railway that once acted as a critical mode of transport for goods across the island, is happy to take visitors on a quick scenic ride down the coast.
The two-hour ride, which travels between the Ewa Train Depot to Kahe Point, is narrated by a local expert who will teach guests everything they need to know about the train’s history, with gorgeous views of the water and the Waianae mountain range along the way. As the nonprofit adds, the train travels at the “lickety-split speed of 15 miles per hour.”
It’s an easy train to hop on, too, as the Hawaiian Railway Society operates rides on weekends, with departures on Wednesdays at 1 p.m., Saturdays at noon and 3 p.m., and Sundays at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Though you may want to arrive early as the Ewa Train Depot is a destination in itself, and contains a small museum about the island’s railway history, including vintage rail equipment guests can explore up close. (Naturally, there’s a gift shop where you can pick up a little souvenir to remember your journey.)
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There is, however, one reason to choose the Wednesday or Saturday rides: “On all rides, except the Sunday 1 p.m. ride, we stop for ice cream in Koolina,” the train’s website explained. Though it’s not included in the fare, so make sure to have some extra cash handy.
Tickets for the rides can be purchased in advance for $20 for adults and $15 for kids through the Hawaiian Railway Society’s website or at the depot on the day of the ride—though booking in advance is likely a better option as the rides are rather popular with tourists and locals alike.
Learn more about the train and book your tickets at hawaiianrailway.com.
