2 more school bus routes to be restored in East Hawaiʻi starting Monday

Two more previously suspended school bus routes in East Hawaiʻi will be reinstated starting this week.

The routes serve Pāhoa High and Intermediate School, Pāhoa Elementary School and Keonepoko Elementary School. They return to service Feb. 10, once again providing transportation to and from school for nearly 40 students.

Bus service provider Ground Transport will serve the routes.

Parents and guardians of student riders were notified directly about the restored routes and are kept in the know about any necessary route modifications.

The following school bus routes will resume service Monday:

• Pāhoa High and Intermediate, Pahoa Elementary: SR10A.
• Keonepoko Elementary: SR18A/B.
• Kaʻū-Keaʻau-Pāhoa Complex Area: Total of 2 routes restored.

A total of 122 routes throughout the state will have been restored as of Monday, representing 88% of 138 previously suspended routes. Efforts to restore the remaining 16 are ongoing.

Ground Transport is actively recruiting new drivers, leveraging Hawaiʻi Gov. Josh Green’s emergency proclamation to streamline the hiring process.

Green’s proclamation allows drivers with a commercial driver’s license and “P” endorsement — permitting them to transport passengers — to operate school buses temporarily, in lieu of the “S” endorsement specifically required for school bus drivers.

Ground Transport is also exploring partnerships with other tour bus operators to further expand capacity.

More updates will be provided as additional routes are restored.