Honolulu Rail Opens it's First Segment Today

[Tamaradarann]

I totally agree with what you said here. The areas outside of the urban Honolulu area is much like the other islands of Hawaii as far as needing a car. Furthermore, as you said the traffic is bad getting into urban Honolulu.

When we picked our location to live in Hawaii it was with a focus of being walkable to stores and restaurants, good public transportation, eary access to theatres for live music and show performances. I agree that everyone can't live in Waikiki. That is why there is such great focus on builidng in Kakaako. That is another area that has good public transportation and easy access to those things that we value.

 

[sponger76]

When we picked our location to live in Hawaii it was with a focus of being walkable to stores and restaurants, good public transportation, eary access to theatres for live music and show performances. I agree that everyone can't live in Waikiki. That is why there is such great focus on builidng in Kakaako. That is another area that has good public transportation and easy access to those things that we value.

Kaka'ako still doesn't solve the problem for most people. 1) There still isn't enough housing for the workforce. 2) The majority of the condos being built there are super expensive and out of reach for the common worker in Hawaii. They are instead being bought by rich people, including a large amount from the mainland or overseas who don't even plan to live there full time.

 

[geist1223]

Hawaii should adopt a plan similar to British Columbia, Canada. If a non-Canadian buys real estate in BC there is an extra 20% Tax on the purchase. Also if they occupy less than 6 months a year the property taxes hughly escalate.

 

[Everett J Smith]

Free rides are going on today.

Marking ‘historic’ milestone, scores line up on opening day to ride Honolulu’s long-awaited rail

Nearly 9,000 people rode Skyline in its first day of public operation.

www.hawaiinewsnow.com

Awesome Sauce, I can't wait to ride it when we visit

 

[slip]

Awesome Sauce, I can't wait to ride it when we visit

Let us know what you think when you go.

 

[Tamaradarann]

Kaka'ako still doesn't solve the problem for most people. 1) There still isn't enough housing for the workforce. 2) The majority of the condos being built there are super expensive and out of reach for the common worker in Hawaii. They are instead being bought by rich people, including a large amount from the mainland or overseas who don't even plan to live there full time.

I know that Kakaako won't solve the problem but it is land that was just sitting there in the middle of Honolulu and is now being developed. There are some incentives to make workforce housing affordable but not enough. Your thoughts are leading right to where I was going in 2009 that the rail should start in Honolulu not the boonies so that people could live away from Honolulu and get to downtown, the mall, and Waikiki where the jobs are using the rail.

 

[sponger76]

the rail should start in Honolulu not the boonies so that people could live away from Honolulu and get to downtown, the mall, and Waikiki where the jobs are using the rail.

That was the original intent that was sold to the public, except that they also stated it would also go to UH Manoa since thousands of students drive there daily during the fall/spring semesters. It was only within the last couple of years that they started shorting the initial endpoint.

 

[Tamaradarann]

That was the original intent that was sold to the public, except that they also stated it would also go to UH Manoa since thousands of students drive there daily during the fall/spring semesters. It was only within the last couple of years that they started shorting the initial endpoint.

I always heard that eventually it would go to UH Manoa and that certainly would be a worthwhile goal. However, the traffic builds up and continues to where the jobs are. At this point in time the rail stops just about the place where the traffic builds to unbearable. If they started in Downtown and went West at this time people could drive to the Stadium or other parking areas and take the rail to their jobs.

 

[Kapolei]

Former Governor Linda Lingle commissioned a study that predicted all of this. Unfortunately the way politics works is that she is a Republican and we live in a place where no recognition is given to people that are in the other party. Just because. It’s a shame how badly the people of Hawai’i have disrespected her.

 

[slip]

Off to a slow start now that you have to pay to ride.

UPDATE | Skyline ridership drastically dips during the first two days of paid service

The city announced on Friday that 1,290 passengers rode Skyline on Thursday -- the second day that passengers had to pay for their ride.

www.kitv.com

 

[Tamaradarann]

Off to a slow start now that you have to pay to ride.

UPDATE | Skyline ridership drastically dips during the first two days of paid service

The city announced on Friday that 1,290 passengers rode Skyline on Thursday -- the second day that passengers had to pay for their ride.

www.kitv.com

I don't know if I am missing something but the 1245 riders might not have had to pay. If they had Holo cards paid monthly or annually I believe they could ride for free. We pay Holo Annually as Seniors for $45/year for unlimited rides. Some day we night ride the rail but it doesn't start anywhere near us or go anywhere we want to go so we will continue to ride the bus like many others since its route is so limited. I can see a lot of riders out east might take the rail if they didn't have to change to a bus. Now they just get on a bus and go to work they don't have to change and wait for a bus.

 

[slip]

I don't know if I am missing something but the 1245 riders might not have had to pay. If they had Holo cards paid monthly or annually I believe they could ride for free. We pay Holo Annually as Seniors for $45/year for unlimited rides. Some day we night ride the rail but it doesn't start anywhere near us or go anywhere we want to go so we will continue to ride the bus like many others since its route is so limited. I can see a lot of riders out east might take the rail if they didn't have to change to a bus. Now they just get on a bus and go to work they don't have to change and wait for a bus.

Well technically they did pay. You have to buy the Holo card. The rail is just a part of the transit system now. The rail fares are the same as riding the bus.

But I see what you are saying. Out of the 1245 people, how many were new fares because of the rail. So as bad as the 1245 number was, it's actually worse of a situation as far as generating any income.

I guess time will tell if more Holo cards are sold because of the rail.

 

[Tamaradarann]

Well technically they did pay. You have to buy the Holo card. The rail is just a part of the transit system now. The rail fares are the same as riding the bus.

But I see what you are saying. Out of the 1245 people, how many were new fares because of the rail. So as bad as the 1245 number was, it's actually worse of a situation as far as generating any income.

I guess time will tell if more Holo cards are sold because of the rail.

Well if they bought the Holo card for riding the rail or for the use of public transportation in late June or July 2023 they did pay. But if, like us, have had the Holo card since November of 2021 renewing annually there is NO income for the rail nor is there an increase in the use of public transportation.

It needs to be kept in mind that the purpose of the rail is to get people off the road and on the rail and public transportation. Only having people buy Holo cards and paying for monthly or annually for the use of public transportation is showing that the rail is successful. If it is just people riding the rail instead of the bus the rail is missing its goal.

 

[slip]

Well if they bought the Holo card for riding the rail or for the use of public transportation in late June or July 2023 they did pay. But if, like us, have had the Holo card since November of 2021 renewing annually there is NO income for the rail nor is there an increase in the use of public transportation.

It needs to be kept in mind that the purpose of the rail is to get people off the road and on the rail and public transportation. Only having people buy Holo cards and paying for monthly or annually for the use of public transportation is showing that the rail is successful. If it is just people riding the rail instead of the bus the rail is missing its goal.

Very true.

 

[jehb2]

We were at the Lagoon Tower just a few weeks ago and saw a local news story. Apparently, none of the stops/stations have bathrooms. Locals were not happy to learn about that.

 

[jehb2]

I watched the train go back and forth while waiting at the bus stop at Aloha Stadium.

 

[Tamaradarann]

I watched the train go back and forth while waiting at the bus stop at Aloha Stadium.

Well all that the train does is go back and forth; it really doesn't go anywhere one wants to go. If the stop at Aloha Stadium allowed you to ride the rail to downtown Honolulu, Ala Moana Mall, or Waikiki then it would be a stop that you could get on the rail and go someplace. Kapolei where you can go on the rail at Aloha Stadium is really not a hot destination. We were there a few months ago and were not impressed. There has been alot of hype about Kapolei being the second city of Hawaii over the last 15 years but it doesn't have what we want in a destination. It reminds us of the car oriented suburbs life on Long Island that we left to come to the walkable city life of Honolulu. If you want the suburbs life then Kapolei will work for you fine. However, if it is a car oriented life then why do you need a rail. Perhaps to get to the city. But the rail doesn't go to the city!! It is my honest hope that they do fulfill the commitment to get to the job destinations of Honolulu and the Ala Moana Mall in our lifetime.