Hawaiian Railway Society in Ewa Beach, Oahu, Hawaii

Written By Kelsey Cecil

Ewa Beach, Oahu, Hawaii · Updated October 19, 2026 · 12 min read

Heritage railroad with a museumTrain ridesTrain rides Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday

The Hawaiian Railway Society runs Oahu's only operating historic train ride on restored Oahu Railway & Land Company narrow gauge track, carrying riders from Ewa to the ocean at Kahe Point while volunteers restore the island's railroad past.

  • Oahu's only operating historic railway
  • Preserving rail history since 1970
  • 6.5 miles of restored track
  • Dillingham Parlor Car 64, built 1900
  • Free toy train museum
  • Volunteer-run 501(c)(3) nonprofit

Hawaiian Railway Society at a glance

Hours
Train rides Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday; Toy Train Museum Wed 12 to 1 pm, Sat 11 am to 3 pm, Sun 12 to 3 pm (closed for lunch breaks)
Admission
Standard ride $20; Premium Parlor Car 64 ride $35; Toy Train Museum free
Train rides
Two-hour narrated round trip, Ewa to Kahe Point; Parlor Car 64 on the second Sunday of each month
Seasonal events
Halloween Train Ride, Holiday Express Train Ride
Plan for
About 2.5 to 3 hours
Best for
Families, rail fans and visitors curious about plantation-era Oahu
Best ages
Ages 3 and up

Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Hawaiian Railway Society? Bring Rally along.

In Rally Takes the Train, a corgi's little legs can't manage the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. It takes about five minutes to read, a good fit for the drive to Ewa Beach, Oahu.

Page 1 of 8

Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

Like it so far? See the full book

25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $13.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.

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Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.

One abandoned locomotive and the railroad that built Oahu

For decades the Oahu Railway & Land Company, known as the OR&L, was the backbone of the island. Its three-foot narrow gauge trains hauled sugar from the plantations and carried passengers along the Leeward coast, and its engines were serviced at the Iwilei Roundhouse, which stood from 1908 to 1959. During World War II, 4-6-0 ten-wheelers like engine 85, built in 1910, handled most of the passenger runs, while heavier 2-8-2 Mikados such as engine 80, built in 1926, worked the line.

The Hawaiian Railway Society started in 1970 with one abandoned locomotive, W.A. Co. 6, the engine that inspired a group of rail lovers to begin saving what was left. Over the years they took on the old OR&L trackbed at Ewa, rebuilt the rails and gathered equipment from across the islands. The site is now a registered national and state historic site.

Today the society operates 6.5 miles of restored track from Ewa Beach to Kahe Point and runs three restored vintage diesel locomotives. Its jewel is Parlor Car 64, built in 1900 for OR&L founder Benjamin F. Dillingham and used to entertain Hawaiian royalty and visiting dignitaries. Hundreds of volunteers keep the trains running, rebuild cars, weld, landscape and lead the narrated rides, and it is their work that keeps Oahu's rail story alive.

Leeward views at 15 miles an hour

The standard ride is a two-hour round trip through Oahu's Leeward side at an easy 15 miles per hour, with the Waianae Mountains on one side and the ocean at Kahe Point at the far end. A narrator tells stories of the sugar plantation days, the OR&L and the landmarks along the way, and most rides include a snack stop in Ko Olina. Riders can board in Ewa Beach or Ko Olina.

Back at the Ewa station, the Toy Train Museum is a favorite. Built from the personal collection of Peter Caderas, it took three years and more than 5,000 volunteer hours to create, and admission is free. Around the yard you will see the society's vintage diesel locomotives and restoration projects, and you can pose for photos with the engines.

Don’t miss

  1. Parlor Car 64Built in 1900 for OR&L founder Benjamin F. Dillingham to host royalty and dignitaries, and open to riders on the second Sunday of each month.
  2. The Toy Train MuseumA free display built from Peter Caderas's collection over three years and 5,000 volunteer hours.
  3. The run to Kahe PointThe far end of the 6.5 miles of restored track, where the line meets the ocean.
  4. Vintage diesel locomotivesFully restored by volunteers and used on every ride; photos with the engines are welcome.
  5. W.A. Co. 6The locomotive that inspired the founding of the Hawaiian Railway Society in 1970.

Open-air rides, a snack stop and a toy train room

Kids get a slow, two-hour train ride with mountain and ocean views, a narrator to answer questions and a snack stop in Ko Olina on most rides. Two hours is a long sit for toddlers, so bring water, sun protection and something to do on the return leg.

The free Toy Train Museum is a good warm-up or cool-down, and the Halloween train and Holiday Express are family favorites each year. Private charters make a memorable birthday party for a train-loving kid.

Plan your visit: tips for Hawaiian Railway Society

  • Book Parlor Car 64 well ahead; seats sell out months in advance.
  • The Ko Olina snack stop is offered on all rides except the Sunday 1 pm departure.
  • You can board in Ewa Beach or Ko Olina; check your ticket for the pickup point.
  • From H-1 west, take exit 5A toward Ewa, follow Hwy 76 south, then Renton Rd; the entrance is through the fence on a small lane.

Each fall the society runs a Halloween Train Ride, and in the holiday season the Holiday Express rolls out along the Leeward coast. Both are popular with families, so watch the society's website and social pages for dates. For more seasonal ideas, see our guides to Halloween train rides in Hawaii and Christmas train rides in Hawaii.

Hundreds of volunteers and a nonprofit society

The Hawaiian Railway Society is an education and restoration focused 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and hundreds of volunteers keep it going. It always needs help with general restoration, landscaping and welding. Memberships and donations keep the trains running and fund restoration, and riding the train is a direct way to support the work.

More island rail history

Hawaii's other rail stops are on neighboring islands. On Kauai, about 92 miles away, the Grove Farm Homestead and the Kauai Plantation Railway are both in Lihue. On Maui, about 110 miles away, the Alexander & Baldwin Sugar Museum tells the sugar story. See all of Hawaii's train museums.

Every train museum in Hawaii

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor of Rally the corgi looking out an arched train window at the ocean and a white bird
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

Our book's train is the Pacific Surfliner out of San Diego, and the scene I love most is Rally at the arched window, watching the ocean and saying hello to a white bird. This ride ends at Kahe Point, right by the water, and I can picture plenty of little noses pressed to the glass. If your kids want to color that ocean view, our coloring pages are a good place to start.

Free for train families

Print the Rally coloring pages before you go

Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. Tuck a few in a folder with crayons for the drive or the wait for the next train.

Get the free coloring pages
Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

A train story for the ride homeRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi's first train trip to see his grand-paw-rents. Hand-painted in real watercolor. $13.99 on Amazon, for ages 0 to 8.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

More for train families

Work or volunteer at Hawaiian Railway Society?

We want this page to be the best introduction to your museum on the web. Send new hours, event dates, corrections or photos to kelsey@rallytakesthetrain.com and we will update it. You are welcome to share this page with your members.

Sources

Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.

Hawaiian Railway Society: 20 questions about the Ewa train

How much does the Hawaiian Railway train ride cost?

As of October 2026, the standard two-hour narrated ride is $20, and the premium ride in the restored Dillingham Parlor Car 64 is $35. The Toy Train Museum is free, with donations welcome. Private charters are priced separately, so email or call (808) 681-5461 for a quote.

When does the Hawaiian Railway Society run trains?

Regular train rides run on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Departure times are listed on the ticket page at hawaiianrailway.com, and private charters can be booked seven days a week. The premium Parlor Car 64 ride runs only on the second Sunday of each month.

Where is the Hawaiian Railway Society?

The station is at 91-1001 Renton Rd, Ewa Beach, Hawaii 96706. From H-1 west, take exit 5A toward Ewa, stay on Hwy 76 south for about 2 1/2 miles, turn right on Renton Rd at the gas station, continue about 1 1/2 miles, then turn left onto a small lane. The entrance is on your right, through the fence.

How long is the Hawaiian Railway train ride?

The standard ride is a two-hour round trip at about 15 miles per hour, covering the society's restored track between Ewa Beach and Kahe Point. A narrator shares stories of plantation days and the Oahu Railway & Land Company along the way, and most rides include a snack stop in Ko Olina.

Where does the Hawaiian Railway train go?

The train runs over 6.5 miles of restored track from Ewa Beach to Kahe Point on Oahu's Leeward side. Riders see the Waianae Mountains and finish at the ocean near Kahe Point before returning. Pickup is in Ewa Beach or Ko Olina, so check your ticket for where to board.

What is Parlor Car 64 on the Hawaiian Railway?

Parlor Car 64 was built in 1900 for Benjamin F. Dillingham, founder of the Oahu Railway & Land Company, and was used to entertain Hawaiian royalty and visiting dignitaries. Restored to its original look, it carries riders only on the second Sunday of each month. Seats sell out months ahead, so call to book early.

Is the Hawaiian Railway Society the only train ride on Oahu?

Yes. The society describes itself as the only operating historic railway in Hawaii and the only historic train ride on Oahu. It runs on the trackbed of the old Oahu Railway & Land Company, a three-foot narrow gauge line that once served the island's sugar plantations.

Is there a toy train museum at the Hawaiian Railway?

Yes. The Toy Train Museum was built from Peter Caderas's personal collection and took three years and more than 5,000 volunteer hours. Admission is free, with donations welcome. As of October 2026 it opens Wednesday 12 to 1 pm, Saturday 11 am to 3 pm and Sunday 12 to 3 pm, with lunch breaks.

Does the Hawaiian Railway have a Halloween train?

Yes. The society runs a Halloween Train Ride each fall, and it is one of its most popular events for families. Dates, times and tickets are posted on hawaiianrailway.com and on the society's Facebook and Instagram pages, so check early in the season before it sells out.

Is there a Christmas train at the Hawaiian Railway Society?

Yes. The Holiday Express Train Ride runs during the holiday season along the society's Leeward coast route. Details and tickets are posted on the website when the season opens. Book early, since holiday trains on Oahu's only historic railway fill up quickly.

Can I book the Hawaiian Railway for a birthday party?

Yes. Private charters and parties give your group its own two-hour train ride along the Leeward side, and the society tailors the trip for birthdays, corporate events and family reunions. Charters are available seven days a week. Email rides@hawaiianrailway.com or call (808) 681-5461 to plan one.

Is the Hawaiian Railway good for young kids?

Yes, for most families. The slow, narrated ride has ocean and mountain views and usually a snack stop, and the free Toy Train Museum is a hit with little ones. Two hours is a long ride for toddlers, so bring water, snacks and sun protection.

When was the Hawaiian Railway Society founded?

The society says it has been preserving Hawaii's rail history since 1970, when the effort began with a single abandoned locomotive, W.A. Co. 6. Over the years it restored track on the old Oahu Railway & Land Company trackbed at Ewa, and the site is now a registered national and state historic site.

What locomotives does the Hawaiian Railway Society have?

The society runs three fully restored vintage diesel locomotives on its rides, and visitors can take photos with them. Its history displays also feature famous OR&L steam engines such as 4-6-0 No. 85 of 1910, which handled most WWII passenger runs, and 2-8-2 Mikado No. 80 of 1926.

What was the Oahu Railway & Land Company?

The OR&L was the railroad that served Oahu's sugar plantations and Leeward communities, founded by Benjamin F. Dillingham. It ran on three-foot narrow gauge track and kept its engines at the Iwilei Roundhouse from 1908 to 1959. The Hawaiian Railway Society's trains now run on part of its old trackbed.

What are the Hawaiian Railway Society office hours?

As of October 2026, the office is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 9 am to 3 pm, and Saturday and Sunday 9 am to 5 pm, and closed Monday and Thursday. The about page also lists general hours of 11 am to 5 pm daily, so call (808) 681-5461 to confirm before you drop by.

Can I volunteer at the Hawaiian Railway Society?

Yes. Hundreds of volunteers keep the railway running, and the society regularly needs help with general restoration, landscaping and welding. Contact the volunteer coordinator at volunteers@hawaiianrailway.com, or email the restoration director at restoration@hawaiianrailway.com if you want to work on equipment.

How can I support the Hawaiian Railway Society?

The society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and memberships and donations keep its historic trains running and fund restoration projects. You can join or donate through hawaiianrailway.com. Buying a ride ticket, booking a charter and dropping a donation at the Toy Train Museum all help too.

What do Hawaiian Railway reviews say?

Reviewers often describe a slow, easy ride with helpful narration about the area's past and present, which suits families and first-time visitors. The society has a TripAdvisor listing and active Facebook, Instagram and YouTube pages where you can see recent photos and comments before you go.

Are there other train museums in Hawaii?

Yes, on other islands. On Kauai, about 92 miles away, are the Grove Farm Homestead and the Kauai Plantation Railway in Lihue. On Maui, about 110 to 120 miles away, are the Alexander & Baldwin Sugar Museum in Puunene and the Lahaina, Kaanapali & Pacific Railroad, also called the Sugar Cane Train.

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