Hawaiian Railway Society

05/19/2026

Why the interest in railroads—particularly railroads in Hawaiʻi?

This week’s HRS/ʻŌlelo episode is a little different.

Rather than focusing on archival images and historical documents, HRS Historian Jeff reflects on how his own interest in trains developed—beginning with a fascination for their mechanical aspects and growing into a lifelong passion for railroad history.

Naturally, the conversation also turns to the history of railroads in Hawaiʻi and why preserving that history matters.

It’s a thoughtful and personal episode—and well worth the listen.

The Hawaiian Railway Society is truly fortunate that Jeff took on the mantle of Historian.

This episode was produced in partnership with ʻŌlelo Community Media and can also be viewed on their platform.

🎥 Watch the full video here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mclnn3hf3Gw

📩 Be sure to contact Jeff at [email protected] with suggestions for future episodes and any additional information you may have regarding this episode—or any of our previous episodes.

Thanks for watching!

And yes—we had to have at least one image for this episode, so I included a picture of the first railroad project I worked on with TIm back in 2010, the ex-Navy Sheffield Model 44B.

05/11/2026

Did you know that by 1926, Hawaiʻi’s sugar plantations operated 140 locomotives, more than 900 miles of railroad track, and 300 miles of portable track?

In this episode, Ross explores how railroads and associated technology enabled the development of Hawaiʻi’s sugar plantations, focusing on the Honolulu Plantation Company. Beginning in 1898, the company developed fields in Kalihi, ʻEwa, ʻAiea, and Pearl City, and by the 1930s employed approximately 2,500 workers while producing 40,000 tons of sugar annually.

Drawing on historical records from the Hawaiian Sugar Planters’ Association, Ross also examines the remarkable scale of plantation railroading in Hawaiʻi. In addition to plantation railways, seven commercial carriers operated across the major islands on approximately 325 miles of track, using roughly 60 locomotives, 110 passenger cars, and 1,400 freight cars.

This episode was produced in partnership with ʻŌlelo Community Media and can also be viewed on their platform.

🎥 Watch the full video here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7Ezp1E6H6Y

📩 Be sure to contact Jeff at [email protected] with suggestions for future episodes and any additional information you may have regarding the subject of this episode—or any of our previous episodes. Jeff will gladly pass along any requests intended for Ross.

Thanks for watching!

By 1926, Hawaiʻi’s sugar plantations operated 140 locomotives, more than 900 miles of railroad track, and 300 miles of portable track.In this video, Ross exp...

05/04/2026

As always....

From a few years ago.....

.... May the 4th....

04/21/2026

We’re back with Part 2 of our latest series!

In this video, Ross continues his presentation on the history of the Oahu Railway and Land Company. Using the extensive collection of photographs and documents in the HRS library, this episode resumes the story around 1913 and follows the OR&L through its later development and eventual conclusion.

The video also covers the final years of the Honolulu Harbor Branch—renamed the Oahu Railway—which remained in operation until December 31, 1971.

This episode was produced in partnership with ʻŌlelo Community Media and can also be viewed on their platform.

🎥 Watch the full video here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=######X

📩 Be sure to contact Jeff at [email protected] with suggestions for future episodes and any additional information you may have regarding the subject of this episode.

Thanks for watching!

https://youtu.be/GzrGxHfvWyc

HRS/ʻŌlelo Episode 37 Part 2 of the History of the OR&L through documents and photos.

04/13/2026

We’re finally back with new content!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-sUUtt9h6g

In this video, Ross presents Part 1 of a two-part series exploring the history of the Oahu Railway and Land Company. Using the extensive collection of photographs and documents in the HRS library, he walks through its beginnings, growth, and eventual dissolution.

This episode was produced in partnership with ʻŌlelo Community Media and can also be viewed on their platform.

A few HRS updates (not covered in the video):

• Development of the museum building continues—slowly but steadily. Once completed, it will provide a climate-controlled space to preserve the collection and display artifacts, photographs, and documents for the public.
• Kauila 6 has recently undergone stabilization work, and a new effort is now underway to return it to its original configuration—stay tuned for more on that.
• And if you haven’t visited HRS lately, Kauila is finally under cover after spending most of its life exposed to the elements.

📩 Be sure to contact Jeff at [email protected] with suggestions for future episodes and any additional information you might have regarding the subject of this episode.

Thanks for watching, and Part 2 is coming soon!

04/05/2026

We will be having our regular rides at 1pm and 3pm on Easter Sunday.

03/29/2026

🚂 The Hawaiian Railway Society was featured on PBS Hawaiʻi's Home is Here!

For over 50 years, railroads helped shape life across Hawaiʻi — and for decades, HRS volunteers have worked passionately to restore, maintain, and operate that preserved history for future generations to experience.

HRS Historian Jeff Livingston put it perfectly: most people don't realize how central the railroad was to Hawaiʻi's economic development — and that's exactly what we're here to change.

Catch the full episode on YouTube or stream it free at pbshawaii.org. Share it with someone who loves Hawaiʻi history! 🤙

📺 https://youtu.be/EBhy-sPSEhk

The Hawaiian Railway Society is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving Hawaiʻi’s railroad history. Based in ʻEwa, Central Oʻahu, the society restor...

03/05/2026

🎉 Big news! Our Hawaiian Railway Society Instagram page has just reached 1,000 followers!

Mahalo to everyone who has joined us on this journey and helped spread the aloha for Hawaiian railroad history. It means so much to our community.

If you're not already following us on Instagram, come on over and join the ohana! 🚂

And don't forget — we have a growing library of videos on our YouTube channel covering the rich history of Hawaiian railroading, including our Olelo programs. If you haven't checked it out yet, you're in for a treat!

🎥 Find us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/

Here's to keeping Hawaiian railroad history alive — share this post and help us spread the word! 🌺🚂

The official channel of the Hawaiian Railway Society.

02/14/2026

We're looking for volunteers! Come out and help preserve Hawaii's Railroading History.

01/24/2026

Saturday morning trackwork.