Episode 23: Aloha, Chief Donohue
On this episode of the One O’ahu Podcast, Mayor Rick Blangiardi joins host Brandi Higa to discuss the first week of operations for Skyline, his thoughts on the passing of former Honolulu Police Chief Lee Donohue, and explains some key federal funding coming to the City and County of Honolulu.
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Skyline ridership
On July 5, 2023, Skyline, Honolulu’s rail system, began regular fare operations. Prior to that, rides were free from June 30 - July 4, 2023. The Department of Transportation Services (DTS) reported 3,276 riders on the first full day of fare operations, a drop from the 14,216 riders on Skyline’s first full day of free rides on July 1, 2023.
“It’s really well built. It’s the first of its kind in the United States,” explained Mayor Blangiardi. “It’s truly a modern project. We talk about modernizing our City and this puts us in the forefront on a driverless, all-electric system that is really state-of-the-art. So it’ll come.”
DTS expects the number of riders to grow once public and private schools and college campuses return to session in August.
Aloha, Chief Donohue
On July 9, 2023, former Honolulu Police Chief Lee Donohue died at Straub Medical Center following an extended illness. He was 80 years old.
“Personally to me he was a friend but he was a mentor, somebody I really looked up to,” said Mayor Blangiardi. “I sought his counsel on a number of occasions. I just really liked the guy.”
After serving the department for 40 years, Donohue continued serving the public through many community organizations.
Federal Funding
The City and County of Honolulu was selected earlier this month to receive $1M through the Inflation Reduction Act for climate action planning.
“All the climate action initiatives, given what we’re trying to transform to, require money,” explained Mayor Blangiardi. “And the trick for us is how do we expend monies and at the same time don’t make the things that we’re doing expensive for the people here.” Mayor went on to add, “this money helps us to implement things where we don’t have to pass the cost of that on to consumers.”
The City has also applied for an additional $2.6M from the U.S. Forest Service to grow community tree canopy equity and focus its planting and maintenance wisely.
