HONOLULU — A new fleet of autonomous electric passenger shuttles was launched as part of an 18-month pilot project at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport on Tuesday, announced the Hawaii Department of Transportation.

What You Need To Know

  • Service begins April 17 with the same hours as the Wiki Wiki from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily

  • The new fleet will be evaluated over 18 months as the HDOT looks for ways to increase efficiency

  • Travelers can catch the Miki shuttle between C and G gates and Terminals 1 and 2 on the third level with their carry-on baggage

  • Each Miki shuttle holds 11 passengers, including the shuttle attendant, and is ADA-accessible and can accommodate one wheelchair

The new fleet, named “Miki,” the Hawaiian word for agile, will augment the existing Wiki Wiki shuttle bus service and provide travelers with another transportation option between gates and terminals.

Service begins April 17 with the same hours as the Wiki Wiki from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

“We are proud to launch the Miki shuttle service which will provide additional convenience for our airport users,” said HDOT Director Ed Sniffen in a news release. “The autonomous electric vehicles add to our ongoing progress to transition our vehicle fleet to electric vehicles and will help meet the state’s sustainability goals.”

The new fleet will be evaluated over 18 months as the HDOT looks for ways to increase efficiency. Departing and arriving passengers can ride two of the four shuttles along the same route as the Wiki Wiki buses between C and G gates and Terminals 1 and 2. Travelers can catch the Miki shuttle on the third level with their carry-on baggage.

Beep, Inc., a company that focuses on autonomous mobility solutions, provided the electric shuttles, services and software.

“Through this collaboration, Beep will leverage its national experience in deploying and proving out these rapidly evolving technologies across multiple states and communities, while emphasizing our unwavering approach to safety and sustainability,” said Joe Moye, chief executive officer at Beep. “Together, we're enhancing accessibility and ensuring mobility for all."

Each Miki shuttle holds 11 passengers, including the shuttle attendant, and is ADA-accessible and can accommodate one wheelchair. It operates at a max speed of 10 miles per hour.

Although the shuttles will be driven autonomously, the attendant can take over manually at any time through a controller. The attendant is also trained on the shuttle’s safety features and also will provide information on how Miki operates with riders.

Miki is another step toward transitioning the state’s fleet vehicles to electric vehicles and reducing the state’s reliance on fossil fuels.

Last summer, HDOT partnered with the University of Hawaii at Manoa to launch the first autonomous electric passenger shuttle as part of the university’s Rainbow Shuttle service to transport students and staff around campus.

This pilot project is possible through a service contract with Sustainability Partners that enables HDOT and other state and county agencies to obtain EVs and charging infrastructure on a per-mile cost basis.

Sarah Yamanaka covers events, environmental and community news for Spectrum News Hawaii. She can be reached at sarah.yamanaka@charter.com.