The sleepy town of Wahiawa was once home to a train station, James Dole's first cannery, and even a hotel that longtimers say hosted a Mainland football team in town to play the University of Hawai'i.

They're part of Wahiawa's rich history being shared with others through monthly tours of the town, which is more than 100 years old.

The Wahiawa Community and Business Association's Community Strengthening Program began giving free bus tours of the town this year. The next tour will be on June 21.

The idea behind the tours is part economic rejuvenation and part Wahiawa pride.

"Wahiawa isn't exactly a big tourist attraction," said Jack Kampfer, past president of the association and chairman of the community strengthening program. "We're trying to generate a little interest in the community, and maybe they'll stop here and eat and do some shopping. There's economic motive behind it, but we'd also like people to understand the agricultural heritage."

Area tours offered at the annual Wahiawa Pineapple Festival have been so popular that community leaders decided to offer tours of the town more often.

The bus tours are funded by a $1,000 Hawai'i Tourism Authority County Product Enrichment Program grant via the city, said Kampfer.

The two tours conducted so far have each drawn about 40 people, most of them local residents or military, Kampfer said.

Various community leaders are guiding the tours, which organizers hope to continue every third Saturday of the month through the end of the year. The association also put together and is selling a booklet that includes old pictures of Wahiawa and a history of the town.