7 Big Island bus routes among 14 in state to be restored this month

7 school bus routes on the Big Island will be restored starting on Sept. 23, when the Hawai’i State Department of Education reinstates services for a total of 14 previously suspended routes in Central Oʻahu, East Hawaiʻi Island and Upcountry Maui.

In a press release Wednesday, the department said the routes will restore service for more than 250 bus riders at 10 schools across the state.

The following school bus routes will resume service, effective Monday, Sept. 23:

HAWAI‘I ISLAND
Hilo-Waiākea Complex Area: 2 routes

• Waiakeawaena Elementary, Waiakea Intermediate and Waiakea High – TR11A, TR11B

Ka‘ū-Keaʻau-Pāhoa Complex Area: 5 routes

• Keonepoko Elementary – SR16A, SR16B
• Mountain View Elementary – SR35A, SR35B
• Kāʻu High & Pāhala Elementary – SR07A

OʻAHU
Leilehua-Mililani-Waialua Complex Area: 6 routes 

• Mililani Middle – CR06A, CR06B
• Wheeler Middle – CR16A, CR16B
• Leilehua High – CR15A, CR15B

MAUI
Baldwin-Kekaulike-Kūlanihākoʻi-Maui Complex Area: 1 route

• Kekaulike High and Kalama Intermediate – UR16A

Following the restoration of the 14 routes next Monday, a total of 96 routes will have been restored, the Department of Education said in the statement. It added that efforts to restore the remaining 42 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.”