The Skyline, the first railroad to run in Honolulu in 75 years, is an elevated railroad that runs from East Kapolei via Honolulu Airport to Ala Moana Center just before downtown Waikiki, operating automatically and without crews.
The plan is divided into three phases +/-, with the Kualakai Station in East Kapolei to the Halawa Station in front of Aloha Stadium opening on June 30, 2023 (Phase 1).
The Halawa Station to the Kahauiki Station in front of the Kalihi Transit Center bus terminal via the Lelepaua Station, which is directly connected to Honolulu Airport, has already opened on October 16, 2025 (Phase II).
Then, from Kahauiki Station to Kaakaukukui Station, where the federal government building, state government offices, municipal court, and other public institutions are located, is scheduled to open in 2031 (Phase 3), and beyond that to Kalia Station at Ala Moana Center, the opening date has not yet been determined.
The fare is $3, and a “Holocard” contactless IC card is required ($2 issuance fee). 2.5 hours of validity is allowed per ride, and you can get on and off freely within this time. You can also take TheBus within the validity period at no additional cost.
When I actually boarded the train, the feeling was similar to that of Tokyo’s Yurikamome, although the track system is different. The gates are passed through by touching the card, and there are platform doors at the boarding area, much like riding a train in Japan, so you should have no trouble using the system. The extension of the line to Honolulu is still in the planning stages, so it may not be easy to use from the perspective of the average tourist, but we look forward to its future.
© Source travel watch