Laupahoehoe Train Museum Photos
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Laupahoehoe Train Museum, Big Island
A sign at the Laupahoehoe Train Museum invites you “take a trip back in time,” and it is definitely a trip worth taking. Built by community residents in 1998, the museum celebrates the culture of the Hamakua Coast and its fascinating railroad history. It sits on the very spot where the old Laupahoehoe Train Station stood at the turn of the 20th century.
Years of neglect have damaged much of the main building, but the residents have worked long hours to bring back its old charm. Today, the old employee home is filled with relics, photos and other memorabilia from the train's busier days. Even the old narrow-gauge diesel engine has been expertly restored and is now fully functional. The old box car is being reconstructed and will soon run along the tracks again.
To the far side is a small gift shop where visitors can buy various logo items, including shirts, pins, hats and patches. Many are hand-crafted by the locals themselves and cannot be found anywhere else. History buffs can also pick up history books and educational videos about the Hamakua community. One of the bestsellers is called “April Fools” and depicts the aftermath of the tsunami that hit the island on April 1, 1946.
Hours:
Weekdays from 9 am to 4:30 pm
Weekends from 10 am to 2 pm
Admission:
Adults-$3; Students/Senior citizens-$2
Laupahoehoe Train Museum Overview
- Learn about the life and times of trains on the Hamakua Coast in the late 19th and early 20th century
- Features train memorabilia, books, furniture and photographs
- Two videos present info about the train line and sugar era
- Rail system was destroyed on April Fool’s Day, 1946, when a tsunami struck the coast and destroyed track, bridges and other railroad property
Location: 36237 Mamalahoa Highway, Laupahoehoe, Hawaii 96764 Directions: Located between mile marker 25 and 26.
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