Previously suspended Keaʻau Middle School bus route to be reinstated starting Monday

A previously suspended school bus route serving Keaʻau Middle School — the SR21A route in the Kaʻū-Keaʻau-Pāhoa Complex Area — will be reinstated Monday, providing service for about 11 students. 

The route will be serviced by Ground Transport. Parents and guardians were notified, including about any necessary modifications.

Hawaiʻi Department of Education reports that reinstatement of the Keaʻau route will bring the total of restored school bus routes to 123. Efforts to get the final 15 suspended routes back up and running are ongoing. 

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

The proclamation allows peop;e with a commercial driver’s license and a “P” endorsement, which permits them to transport passengers, to operate school buses temporarily in lieu of the “S” endorsement normally and specifically required for school bus drivers.

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

The state Education Department will provide additional updates as more school bus routes are restored.