The Department of Education (HIDOE) announced that nine previously suspended school bus routes in East Hawaiʻi Island, Central Oʻahu and Upcountry Maui will be reinstated starting Monday, September 9.
The latest restored routes will be serviced by bus service contractors Ground Transport Inc. and Roberts Hawaiʻi. Parents and guardians of student riders will be notified directly of restored routes and any necessary route modifications.
The following school bus routes will resume service on Monday:
HAWAI‘I ISLAND
Hilo-Waiākea Complex Area: 2 routes
- Kalanianaole Elementary – TR15A, TR16A
Ka‘ū-Keaʻau-Pāhoa Complex Area: 2 routes
- Pāhoa High – SR12A, SR12B
OʻAHU
ʻAiea-Moanalua-Radford Complex Area: 2 routes
- Moanalua Middle – HR22B
- Moanalua Elementary – HR22A
Leilehua-Mililani-Waialua Complex Area: 2 routes
- Wheeler Middle – CR12A, CR12B
MAUI
Baldwin-Kekaulike-Kūlanihākoʻi-Maui Complex Area: 1 route
- Kekaulike High and Kalama Intermediate – UR02A
Following the restoration of these routes, a total of 78 will have been restored. Efforts to restore the remaining 69 suspended bus routes are ongoing.
Ground Transport is actively recruiting new drivers, leveraging the governor’s emergency proclamation to streamline the hiring process. The proclamation allows drivers with a commercial driver’s license (CDL) and a “P” endorsement – permitting them to transport passengers – to operate school buses temporarily, in lieu of the “S” endorsement specifically required for school bus drivers. The company is also exploring partnerships with other tour bus operators to further expand capacity.
More updates will be provided as additional bus routes are restored.
Photo credit: Hawaiʻi Department of Education