Last updated on February 25th, 2020 at 01:34 pm
It appears that the Maui Sugar Cane Train is done. I say it appears because their iconic locomotives are up for sale, but no formal announcement has been made by the railroad’s owners.
UPDATE: word around the interwebs is that the Sugar Cane Train isn’t done yet. The locomotives were put up for sale to get an appraisal and to gauge interest – which is a boneheaded move if you ask me. But, though the person saying this claims to be associated with the railroad, I haven’t seen any formal statement from the owners. So, I’m taking this claim with a HUGE grain of salt. My previous coverage continues below.
Current Status
Back in December, I theorized that the Maui Sugar Cane Train was in trouble again. Why? The company that owns the land under the railroad has bigger plans for the area. And those plans don’t include the railroad. In fact, they probably want to get rid of it to get rid of a “nuisance” that might hamper its development goals.

Despite a petition and some political support, it looks like the developers won. While the railroad’s owners have made no formal announcement, it’s pretty clear that this is the case. Why? Because the railroad’s two steam locomotives, Anaka and Mrytle, are up for sale on railroad equipment sales site ozarkrailcar.com.

This is a real bummer, as it’s another part of Hawaii’s history that’s disappearing for good. But, not only is the railroad part of Hawaii’s history, it’s part of my own history. As I’ve said in the past, going to ride the Maui Sugar Cane Train was an annual ritual for me in my younger years. I loved it and many of the people that worked there. But, with changing times, came slowing business and the railroad fell on hard times. And, when the railroad stopped running regularly, Kaanapali Land probably took the opportunity to make sure that it would never run again.

Memories from the Sugar Cane Train
Of all the people that my family befriended at the Sugar Cane Train back in the day, an engineer by the name of Glenn was the one that provided the fondest memories. You see, for years, he’d invite us to check out the cab of the locomotive, which then turned into short rides in the cab at Lahaina Station (while the train is being turned around), which culminated in him inviting me to ride in the cab from Kaanapali to Lahaina.

Of course, me being the big chicken that I was, declined an offer to sit in the ENGINEER’S SEAT for the duration of the ride. That’s a decision I’ve come to regret as an adult, but we live and learn, right?
On some of our visits, Gleen would be the (singing) conductor instead of driving the train. And, if we were visiting on my birthday, he’d point me out and have the whole train sing! And, once, they needed to remove the steam locomotive pulling our train that day from service (I believe it was Myrtle) due to a minor issue that popped up. But, Glenn, knowing I was on the train and that I didn’t like the diesel locomotive Oahu 45, kept Myrtle going to finish up my ride with steam.
Influence Beyond the Sugar Cane Train
But Glenn’s enthusiasm for trains extended beyond the Sugar Cane Train. Once, he gave me a video of the SP 4449 running from Portland to Sacramento. Immediately, I was enamored with this gorgeous locomotive, the story of its restoration, and the story of its caretaker, Doyle McCormack. And that’s why, in 2015, when I visited Portland for the first time, the top thing to do on my list was visiting the Daylight at the Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation. Seeing Doyle working on the locomotive was a bonus a nice plus too.
The Maui Sugar Cane Train is Done, Final Thoughts
Suffice to say, the Sugar Cane Train made an indelible mark on my life. I love the people I met there and the railroad itself. I even love the sights, sounds, and smells of the locomotives. So, the thought of never being able to take a ride on the Sugar Cane Train again bums me the hell out. And It makes me really regret not getting over to Maui for one last ride this past holiday season. But, I hope someone will save these to locomotives from the scrapper’s torch. Better yet, I hope the Hawaiian Railway Society can save them and bring them to Oahu. Either way, farewell, Sugar Cane Train. You’ll be missed! And thanks for the memories.

Nice post! Its always sad to see historical relics fade away.
Thanks for reading, Greg! It’s a real shame for sure. Doubly so as the owners have been so secretive.
I live on the hillside behind the Kaanapali course. I will miss the “choo-chooo”, and chugga, chugga, sound when it passes. It was a charming piece of our history. My only hope is that the railway will now become a greenway path for walking or bicycling into Lahaina. 😭
Lois, you sound like you’ve got my kind of home! ;) Hopefully, the newer rumors are right and the railroad will survive. But I’m not getting my hopes up. I do miss seeing the vast green fields of sugar cane in the area too.
What will they develop there? If itstan extension to the hospital, that would be worth the rails going but if it’s more stupid million dollar homes, keep the rails. It would be a waste of Maui history!
Aloha Tita, when looking at Kaanapali Land’s master plan, it looks like houses are slated to go into the area.
http://kaanapaliland.com/pages/2020_vision.php
Believe it or not, according to a source familiar with the Sugar Cane Train, the locomotives were only placed on Ozark Mountain Railcar simply for appraisal and to see if there was any interest in leasing or purchasing them should the worst happen. He was warned that this may possibly generate negative press. The train is not dead yet! I rode this train as a toddler many times, and I too would hate to see it go.
See: http://www.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=44225
Thanks for the info, Nicholas! The owner should’ve heeded the warnings. And, as a businessman, I’m surprised he didn’t have enough PR sense to know what kind of fallout this would have. This is certainly good news, though, and I’m keeping my fingers crossed!
Will any memory of what makes maui deep historical past be left to share with with the future families of Maui. Will any thing survive this new boom in development. Wailuku will be a strange new place in just a few years. Historical wailuke will be all brand new buildings 4 story buildings. No more shops on main or market buildings that are historical land mark buildings that should federally protected will be gone forever. Now the sugar train? Why only in Maui do developers win over politicians & public out cry. Nuff is nuff. These developers bribe local politicians to look other way. For once gone it’s gone. NY saved historical sights before all was lost so why can’t Maui.. U can’t even get aqafer water from iao valley. I just found out I’m getting tap water out of water now. Switched last flooding.. why it was #3 cleanest water before.. in 20 years so many things that makes maui special are gone.. when the sand washed away where we gonna play.. Maui turning to mainland no one seems to care.. when happy valley gets displaced where the local community gonna live.. so so sad
Anthony, I share your sentiment. Though I only live 100 miles away on Oahu, I hadn’t been in over a decade prior to 2014. At that time, area around the airport and much of Lahaina/Kaanapali were unrecognizable to me. Yeah, certain landmarks still stood out, but I was very disoriented. And, when I came again last year, things were quite different again. In my opinion, Maui is Oahu minus 10-20 years. You guys are catching up with us, and I can’t say I’m a fan. Especially since Maui County planners don’t seem to heed sad lessons learned on Oahu regarding historic preservation.
How disappointing. We are visiting in April and I was hoping that it would be running this time so we could ride it.
Susan, apparently things aren’t over yet. But, even if the train does survive, it, sadly, won’t be running in April. I’d be surprised if it runs at all this year aside from, maybe, another Holiday Express.
Our parents had a home in 1970 in the International Colony Club. We could hear the train from their place. It will be a sad day if the Sugar Cane Trainis no longer.
Agreed, Dee. But, hopefully, more recent rumors are right and that things aren’t over just yet!
We’ve always enjoyed it when we visited Maui – especially my husband who is a big train buff. Great memory!
Thanks for reading, Theresa! Next time you’re in Hawaii, I suggest checking out the Hawaiian Railway Society on Oahu. No steam operations, but it’s an excellent historic railroad: https://www.jeffsetter.com/review-hawaiian-railway-society/
Kauai also has some operational steam locomotives that are fired up once a month: https://grovefarm.org/hawaii-trains/
Back in the day, my keiki and I would put pennies on the tracks, watch the engine flatten them, and collect them after the train and passenger cars went by, heading to Lahaina. I expect the kids still have some of those souvenirs of Maui history—-
Ah, yes. I used to do this too!