Dozens of previously suspended school bus routes throughout Hawai‘i reinstated

The Hawai‘i State Department of Education announced today that 34 previously suspended school bus routes across three islands will be reinstated starting Monday.

thanks to ongoing efforts to address the statewide bus driver shortage. Service is being restored for approximately 1,200 student riders enrolled at 23 schools.

In partnership with its contractor, Ground Transport Inc., HIDOE secured additional drivers and buses through a new direct contract with Roberts Hawai‘i. This week-to-week arrangement, enabled by Gov. Josh Green’s emergency proclamation, will continue until Ground Transport can fully restore services on all impacted routes.

“We understand how crucial reliable transportation is for our students and their families, and we are committed to doing everything possible to restore these bus routes quickly in working with our contractors. Our top priority is ensuring that students have safe, dependable access to school. We are grateful for the ongoing support from Governor Green and our county leaders as we work to resolve this situation and get all of our students back on the bus,” Superintendent Keith Hayashi said.

Twenty-nine of the 34 restored routes will be serviced by Roberts and five restored routes will be serviced by Ground Transport.

Hilo-Waiākea Complex Area: 5 routes

• Hilo Intermediate – TR07A
• Hilo Intermediate – TR02A, Hilo High – TR02A, Kapiolani Elementary – TR02B
• Hilo High – TR08A
• Hilo Union Elementary – TR03B and Hilo High – TR03A
• Kaʻumana Elementary – TR09A, TR09B

Ka‘ū-Keaʻau-Pāhoa Complex Area: 9 routes

• Ka‘ū High & Pāhala Elementary – SR05A, SR05B
• Keaʻau Elementary – SR26A, SR26B
• Keonepoko Elementary – SR15A, SR15B
• Mountain View Elementary – SR34A
• Nāʻālehu Elementary – SR01A, SR02A, SR03A
• Pāhoa Elementary – SR08A and Pāhoa High and Intermediate – SR08B

Parents and guardians of students affected by the route restorations will be notified directly of these updates along with information on requesting refunds for bus passes.

Efforts to restore the remaining 113 suspended bus routes are ongoing. Hayashi has formally requested assistance from the Hawaiʻi National Guard to support student transportation needs. Additionally, HIDOE has been collaborating with the mayors of Hawaiʻi, Maui, and Honolulu counties to increase capacity on public transportation routes that students can use to get to and from school.

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 tour bus operators to further expand capacity.

Updates will be provided as more bus routes are restored.

The Department announced on Aug. 1 that it was temporarily suspending 108 routes in Central O‘ahu and East Hawai‘i Island – affecting nearly 2,900 students who signed up for bus transportation – to prioritize transportation for students with disabilities. On Aug. 2, another 39 routes servicing schools in Central and Upcountry Maui were temporarily suspended, impacting 820 students. Ground Transport holds the contract for all of the impacted routes.