A hydraulic excavator drive system includes a regeneration line, which connects an arm pushing and an arm crowding supply line, each of which extends between an arm cylinder and arm control valve. The regeneration line includes regeneration and switching valves. A release line that is branched off from the regeneration line at a position between the regeneration valve and the switching valve is provided with a release valve. A secondary pressure from a first solenoid proportional valve is fed to a pilot port of the regeneration valve such that the regeneration valve opens at a time of arm crowding. A secondary pressure from a second solenoid proportional valve is fed to a pilot port of the release valve such that release valve opens at a time of arm pushing. An arm pushing pilot pressure for moving the arm control valve is led to a pilot port of the switching valve.