Upcoming Event: History of the Oahu Railway & Land Company
July 18, 2023 Alphie Garcia
Over 135 years before the Skyline was built in Kapolei, promising to connect the different parts of our island, the Oahu Railway & Land Company (OR&L) made ʻEwa a hub of activity. In 1888, the founder of OR&L, Benjamin Franklin Dillingham, embarked on an ambitious venture that would forever change the landscape of Oʻahu, Hawaii, by building a narrow gauge steam railway to transport freight such as sugar, pineapples, along with people between Honolulu and Aiea.
By 1895, the rail line extended to Waiʻanae, beyond Kaʻena Point to Mokulēʻia, and Kahuku. An additional line was constructed, traversing through the heart of central Oʻahu, culminating in Wahiawa.
On December 31, 1947, OR&L’s last train journey took place, marking the end of an illustrious 58-year legacy of steam locomotives that had tirelessly transported people, freight, and cherished memories around the island of O‘ahu.
Learn about the fascinating chapter in our island’s ever-evolving story on Saturday, July 29, from 2-4 pm, at the Kapolei Public Library with OR&L historian and Hawaiian Railway Society, Jeff Livingstone. He will be sharing the legacy of the OR&L, its influence on the sugar and pineapple industries, and its role in connecting communities.
Don’t miss this opportunity to learn about this aspect of O‘ahu’s history.
