Visitors to the island of Oahu, may have noticed the elevated railway cutting across the southern part of the island. The railway, recently named Skyline, had been under construction for 11 years, but the long-awaited rail transit system opened its first segment on June 30.
The initial segment is 10.75 miles long and stretches from East Kapolei on the southwest side to Aloha Stadium in central Oahu. The Aloha Stadium is where the swap meet is held, and this is roughly a half-mile from the Pearl Harbor Visitors Center, but the railway does not connect to any major visitor hubs.
Future segments will connect to the Honolulu airport and the Ala Moana Center. For visitors who utilize public transportation, such as TheBus, to get around the island, this may be a good alternative for this route.
As it is elevated, the railway will also offer some unique views. "From the trail as it travels along the elevated guideway there are sweeping 360-degree views, including beautiful vistas of the Waianae mountain range, breathtaking views of the verdant Koolau range, as well as truly magnificent views of Pearl Harbor," said Joey Manahan, director of government relations and public involvement for the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation.
To ride Skyline, riders are required to purchase HOLO cards. These cards can also be used for TheBus, but TheBus passes may not be used for the rail.