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The city says it isn't alarmed by the decline.
The joint venture Shimmick-Traylor-Granite (SMG) is building the $1 billion, five-mile segment from the stadium to Middle Street.
On Wednesday, Skyline saw about 1,245 riders, the city reported.
In Waipahu, conflict has already tied up one big project.
After hosting tens of thousands of riders, the city is offering tips for safety, efficiency and comfort.
“I was trying to find out if basically I could get on the rail and the bus and take less time in the commute."
Long-time supporters and opponents of rail are remembering their hard fought battles on this historic day and the leaders associated with the project.
Rail leadership used Friday’s event to bring together many of those who worked decades for the rail system with those who must deal with the future of the project.
As a tribute, portraits of the late Honolulu Mayor Frank Fasi and U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye hang at the helm of Skyline trains.
Nearly 9,000 people rode Skyline in its first day of public operation.
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The artwork was 10 years in the making and represents Hawaii's rich culture.
Talk of a rail project to help alleviate the island’s increasing traffic troubles first began in 1968, when Neal Blaisdell was Honolulu’s mayor.
The first phase of the long-awaited rail line spans nine stations, from Halawa to East Kapolei.
Honolulu rail leaders are bracing for large crowds as Skyline opens Friday at 2 p.m., with free rides through July 4.
While excitement seems to be growing for the official opening of the first half of the Honolulu rail system, the city is also preparing for complaints.
To integrate Skyline between Aloha Stadium and East Kapolei, the city is changing many bus routes.
“We should be very proud of this system because it is state of the art ... It’s the first of its kind."
Still, residents hope the line will be extended someday to include the destination.
“Let’s get ready to ride!”
The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation released new drone video showcasing the Honolulu Rail Transit Project’s latest trial run.
Businesses on Dillingham Boulevard are struggling to stay afloat as rail work turns the thoroughfare into a construction zone.
The major construction project along Dillingham Boulevard is expected to finish in early 2026.
The long-delayed project, which is estimated to cost around $10 billion, is trying to open the initial phase of the rail line sometime next year.
Some worry the work could put them out of business.
A crucial piece of that is making sure the issue of the cracks on the hammerhead structures are resolved.
Work has started ahead of the Dillingham segment of the rail project.
“It is going to be painful for the community, for the businesses, and residents, people driving along that corridor — but it’s a necessary evil.”
The approval means HART is now eligible for $744 million from the federal government to help build the project.
Traffic in some parts of Kalihi is already congested due the large amount of sewer work in the area.
If repairs are needed, Honolulu's mayor said the opening will be pushed back to potentially early-2023.
Slim cracks have been found in some concrete columns along the Honolulu rail line, potentially delaying its initial opening even further, project leaders say.
The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation says it’s hopeful residents will be using trains by the end of the year.
The city said it hopes to open the route to Halekauwila Street in the next seven years.
The rail authority's CEO said the high cost is because the structure would be built on an area with unstable soil.
The plan also needs approval by the City Council.
A full 20-mile route going to Ala Moana was expected to have a daily ridership of more than 100,000.
The city says the plan will place a priority on industrial tenants in the area to preserve business now operating there.
But even with the additional funding, it probably won’t be enough to complete construction all the way to Ala Moana Center.
The wheels were too small for the tracks that have already been laid.
Randal Lee, white-collar crime expert, said when he began looking into the rail authority’s books he quickly spotted 76 questionable change orders.
The Howard Hughes Corporation owns land needed for the project along the route and near the proposed Kakaako rail station.
Some councilmembers and rail skeptics worry that too much money will go to bail out the troubled mass transit project.
The board was unhappy to learn the delay was due to lengthy negotiations with HECO over underground electrical lines.
He said he’s determined to see the project get built all the way to the Ala Moana Center and suggested part of it could go underground.
The council will bring up the issue again next week Wednesday during their meeting.
His nomination was criticized because of his lack of construction, transportation, and government experience.
Senator Kurt Fevella is bringing attention to potential law violations.
“Their behind-the-scenes emails were all designed to fool the public."
HART CEO Lori Kahikina said she double checked, and there weren't any procurement violations.
HART's interim CEO said timing of when riders can actually use the system depends on how several issues are addressed.