I was looking for some background on the old Oahu Railway & Land Company train that operated around most of the island until 1947, and came across a map and other information about OR&L compiled by the State Department of Transportation.
Browsing through it, I soon spotted this photo, which looked familiar. The caption: “Passengers waiting near Kaena Point.”
It’s familiar because my father, and my sister, Bonnie, are in the photo. My dad is wearing the striped t-shirt, and that’s my sister, then not quite 4 years old, next to him.
I know because a similar snapshot of the same scene was among the photos I found among my mom’s things after her death in early 2013.
In this shot, you can clearly see my dad and sister as their faces are showing.
Now I’m wondering just where the DOT found their version of the scene. I’m sure it would be interesting to trace its history.
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My older siblings tell of taking the OR&L “pay train” to Kaena Point when our father was the paymaster and having a leisurely family picnic there before heading back to the roundhouse. Island life was more laid back in those days.
Frankly, our new train should have continued right around the corder to Waianae. That would truly have gotten many cars off the roads. The extension should have been to Mililani and Hawaii Kai, with a spur to UH Manoa.
And there was a street car up to Manoa, Pacific Heights and Waikiki.
Yes Bob, it would have been great to have a train serving the leeward folks. The new train can’t continue beyond Ala Moana Center because the route out of the center is blocked by new development. So why are “we” still planning for it to go to Ala Moana Center???
THANK YOU for sharing this. You are very lucky to have these priceless photos of your family. Thank again.