Maui News: End of the Line for Lahaina Kaanapali & Pacific

Chris Webster · **Joined:** Sat Aug 25, 2007 12:45 am **Posts:** 1087

Some unfortunate news from The Maui News:
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End of the line for ‘important part of the history of Maui’ (July 25, 2014)

You need to be a subscriber to read the article, but the article begins with "Its last riders will be going aboard Aug. 1. The popular attraction is one of the state's last steam engine railroads and has served as a historic..."

fkrock · **Posted:** Fri Jul 25, 2014 2:16 pm

When I was in Maui last December, the track was very poor condition. It needs lots of new ties. A diesel locomotive derailment caused a four day shut down. Steam did not run the whole time I was there.

This story is no surprise.

Jdelhaye · **Posted:** Fri Jul 25, 2014 2:39 pm

http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/breaking/20140725_Popular_Hawaii_tourist_attraction_set_to_close.html?id=268602852
A non-paywall link

Jeff

p51 · **Posted:** Fri Jul 25, 2014 5:47 pm

Any clues as to the disposition of their rolling stock? They had some handsome steam locomotives. The two former Carbon Limestone 2-4-0s were fine engines to ride behind, #3 has a really nice SP-looking 'whaleback' tender. Their turntable was right alongside the main street, which turned a few heads on people driving down Honoapiilani Highway (I almost saw two rear-end collisions from driver's finding them face to face with a locomotive on the table).
I guess I'm now lucky to have ridden it. When my wife and I went on a cruise of the islands in 2003, we weren't even supposed to dock at Lahaina originally. A storm between us and some outlying islands added that port to the trip. Just a short hike from the dock up the hill to the depot and we rode what was pretty much a 'train to nowhere' but at least it had steam running at the time.
Funny, the website doesn't mention this at all. http://www.sugarcanetrain.com/

Trainlawyer · **Posted:** Fri Jul 25, 2014 8:02 pm

When I tried a few minutes ago the website did not allow booking after the end of this month.

GME

Charlie High · **Posted:** Fri Jul 25, 2014 8:15 pm

My wife and I rode in 1994 while on our honey moon. Great line. Still remember the singing conductor! I took lots of slides and bought a T shirt I still wear, a patch, and their VHS tape, The Sugar Cane Train. I gave their engineer an M&H patch and invited him to ride the M&H when he visited the states. Like most Hawaians I met he politely declined saying he would / could never leave Paradise! (Not the Lancaster County one!)

Bobharbison · **Joined:** Fri Dec 03, 2004 9:42 pm **Posts:** 3010

Maybe he could never leave Paradise since it costs so much to live there?

Back in the early 80's I had some serious discussions with them about working there. They said I had to know how to play the ukulele and sing to be conductor, but they were also hiring engine crew. They offered $8 per hour, which sounded good back then. Then I spoke with a friend who's lived there. He laughed and said "So, are you gonna sleep in the train or on the beach? You can't afford rest on those wages!" A talk with the railroad indicated that yeah, a lot of the new guys worked second jobs for a few years and often shared housing. Not my idea of Paradise so I passed...

Randy Gustafson · **Posted:** Sat Jul 26, 2014 8:09 am

Not a whole lot of specifics that have been communicated, but you can certainly go on TripAdvisor and get a lot of insight as to the way the year has been going.

I remember at one time the ridership on this was phenomenal - I think when Kyle had it, and when the sugar cane operation was still running as well. I wasn't aware that had been closed as well (see the railroad web page).

Brian Norden · **Posted:** Sat Jul 26, 2014 11:24 am

There is a thread about this over on the Narrow Gauge Railroad Discussion Forum:
See this thread: http://ngdiscussion.net/phorum/read.php?1,270164,270164#msg-270164

Some interesting posts. Reports that the latest owners have only been able to barely sustain the operation. Also report that the one maintenance/shop man had decided to retire after 30 years and gave several months notice.

fkrock · **Posted:** Sat Jul 26, 2014 10:17 pm

Addenda to my previous post:

When I was in Maui last December, the railroad was clearly in financial trouble. In spite of many gauge bars, the rails spread on a curve and the diesel locomotive fell in. All the ties appeard to be original. I didn't see any new ties anywhere. I saw no signs of recent track maintenance although it had been weed sprayed.

The derailed train was next to the main highway. Great advertising. It sat there four days before the railroad was able to remove it. The railroad did not start operating again for several more days. I had bought a multi-ride ticket but was only able to take one round trip.

From a distance paint on the two steam locomotives looked good. However all the coaches were shabby and badly needed new paint as did the the display locomotive at the depot. The coaches were clean inside but the paint was old.

Signs posted by the railroad were peeling and needed repainting.

The gift shop has a nice assortment of items for sale. However they had no stock depth. Only one or two of each item was on display but the shelves behind them were empty.

The employees were all very friendly but were not able to answer many questions about the railroad operation. Business was very slow except for one shool kid special. I would estimate trains were operating at about 20% of seating capacity. Advertising was in local tourist guide books.

This is a shame because it once was a very good well patronized ride.

Very, very sad.

Alexander D. Mitchell IV · **Posted:** Sat Nov 08, 2014 9:29 pm

Update?

http://www.lahainanews.com/page/content ... erway.html

Quote:

After months of negotiations and planning, a consortium that includes community leaders and a prominent West Maui businessman last week announced that they have the historic Lahaina Kaanapali & Pacific Railroad back on track and may relaunch the Sugar Cane Train soon.

Operating for 45 years, the Sugar Cane Train made its last trip on Aug. 1, 2014, after the former owners of the Lahaina Kaanapali and Pacific Railroad announced they were ceasing operations due to the viability of the attraction.

The Sugar Cane Train had served more than 5 million visitors and residents since 1970, and news of the closure saddened many in the West Maui community.

Like many West Side residents, local businessman Craig Hill was disappointed to watch the disappearance of yet another iconic Lahaina landmark.

After hearing about preliminary ideas in the media to bring the train back, Hill began exploring possibilities with other like-minded community members.

"The closure was another integral part of Lahaina's history coming to an end," Hill explained, "like the sinking of the Carthaginian, Maui Land & Pineapple ending the days of pineapple and the closing of the Pioneer Mill, which forever silenced the sugar industry in West Maui."

Hill, the new owner of the Sugar Cane Train, is a longtime resident of West Maui. For nearly 30 years, he has provided tourists memorable vacation experiences in Hawaii's visitor industry.