Honolulu rail

During his State of the City address, Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi announced that the second segment of the Skyline rail will open to the public on Oct. 1. The Conversation talked to HART Director and CEO Lori Kahikina, who was a bit surprised by the commitment.

Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s fifth State of the City address was filled with plans, announcements and highlights of his efforts to help Oʻahu residents and improve city services during his second four-year term. HPR's Mark Ladao has more.

The city's Skyline rail service will shut down for two weekends starting this Saturday. The Conversation talked to the Honolulu Department of Transportation Services Director Roger Morton about the closure and what's to come next for the rail.

The Honolulu Department of Transportation Services is proposing a $10 increase for adult monthly passes and a $110 increase for annual passes. The passes would cost $90 and $990, respectively. The youth monthly pass would increase from $40 to $45, and the annual pass would jump from $440 to $495.

Lori Kahikina will continue serving as the head of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation — and will do so with a sizable raise. Her current contract was set to expire at the end of the year.

The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation has awarded a construction contract for the rail's last guideway segment from Middle Street to Kakaʻako. HPR's Catherine Cruz talks with HART CEO Lori Kahikina about building the nearly $10 billion public transportation system.

The City Center Guideway and Stations contract, which also includes six rail stations, has been awarded to the California-based Tutor Perini Corporation, one of the biggest construction companies in the country.

The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation board voted unanimously to offer CEO and Executive Director Lori Kahikina a minimum three-year contract to continue as the leader of the rail project.

City Transportation Director Roger Morton talked to The Conversation about the HART board's decision to offer CEO Lori Kahikina a multi-year contract to stay on the job. He also discussed the city's new oversight of the Biki bikeshare system.

With a year of Skyline rail operation behind us, the next leg is slated to open in late 2025. Are we on schedule? For that, The Conversation talked to HART CEO Lori Kahikina.