TheBuzz
TheBuzz
You did a double-take. Your head may have turned and your neck may have craned to get a better look before the rear-end disappeared in the traffic, or turned the corner. Half tram, half trolley
It wasn't a trolley, it wasn't a tram, it is a trolley-tram and it's the only thing like it on Honolulu streets. Well, there are two of them now in service between Ala Moana Shopping Center and the Waikiki Aquarium seven days a week from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.
Owned by JTB Hawaii Inc., the distinctive orange, white and blue trolley-trams are leased and operated by Enoa Tours under contract with JTB.
"It's like a like a private charter type of contract, same as the trolleys," said Yujiro Kuwabara, general manager of tour planning and marketing for JTB.
"It's included in the tour, just like an amenity," for JTB customers, he said.
The front of the two-part vehicle is slightly reminiscent of Hilo's old open-air "sampan" buses, and hitched behind it is a similar but engineless open-air trailer with padded bench seats.
Kuwabara said the trolley-tram can accommodate 48 passengers, including two in wheelchairs.
The trolley-trams will be part of a fleet of seven JTB hopes to have fully in service by the end of the month.
The company put the first trolley-tram in service at the beginning of April.
Kuwabara said the trolley-trams are popular at parks and recreation facilities on the mainland, and the company brought them to Hawaii to add something "more unique and fun," to its Oli Oli Foot Walk tour package.
Kuwabara said the trolley-trams' manufacturer is Kansas-based Chance Rides, best known for making rides for amusement parks and traveling carnivals.
As shown on its Web site at www.rides.com, the company offers deals on used rides such as a passenger-flipping 1999 Inverter, with one season of operation, at a paltry $475,000.
The trolley-trams belonging to JTB were redesigned by Aria Group in Los Angeles, Kuwabara said.
JTB has no plans to make the trolley-trams available for charter by individuals, such as can be done with some trolley companies.
Erika Engle is a reporter with the Star-Bulletin.
Call 529-4302, fax 529-4750 or write to Erika Engle,
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210,
Honolulu, HI 96813. She can also be reached
at: eengle@starbulletin.com