HONOLULU — Thirty-four previously suspended school bus routes will be reinstated on Aug. 12, restoring service to some 1,200 students enrolled at 23 schools statewide, the state Department of Education announced on Friday.

What You Need To Know

  • Earlier this month, HIDOE temporarily suspended 147 routes in Central Oahu, East Hawaii Island and Central and Upcountry Maui due to an ongoing statewide shortage of school bus drivers
  • HIDOE and contractor Ground Transport Inc. have since secured additional drivers and buses via a direct contract with Roberts Hawaii
  • The new week-to-week agreement was made possible by Gov. Josh Green’s Aug. 2 Proclamation Relating to School Bus Services, which lifted the restriction that only school vehicles may be used to transport students and included specific provisions within employment-related law to allow for qualified drivers to serve in a student transportation capacity
  • While efforts to restore the remaining suspended bus routes are ongoing, Hayashi has requested assistance from the Hawaii National Guard to support student transportation needs

Earlier this month, HIDOE temporarily suspended 147 routes in Central Oahu, East Hawaii Island and Central and Upcountry Maui due to an ongoing statewide shortage of school bus drivers. The service interruption has impacted 3,720 students enrolled in school transportation.

HIDOE and contractor Ground Transport Inc. have since secured additional drivers and buses via a direct contract with Roberts Hawaii.

The new week-to-week agreement was made possible by Gov. Josh Green’s Aug. 2 Proclamation Relating to School Bus Services, which lifted the restriction that only school vehicles may be used to transport students and included specific provisions within employment-related law to allow for qualified drivers to serve in a student transportation capacity.

“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,” said superintendent Keith Hayashi. “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.” The following school bus routes in Central Oahu, Central and Upcountry Maui, and East and South Hawaii Island will resume service. Twenty-nine of the 34 restored routes will be serviced by Roberts and five others by Ground Transport.

 

Oahu

 

Aiea-Moanalua-Radford Complex Area

  • Aiea Intermediate - HR06A
  • Aliamanu Middle - HR10A/HR10B, HR15A
  • Alvah Scott Elementary - HR04A
  • Moanalua Middle - HR21B

Leilehua-Mililani-Waialua Complex Area

  • Haleiwa Elementary - CR21A and Waialua Elementary - CR22
  • Leilehua High - CR08B and Wahiawa Middle - CR08A
  • Mililani Middle - CR03A/CR03B, CR07A/CR07B
  • Wheeler Middle - CR10A/CR10B

 

Hawaii Island

 

Hilo-Waiakea Complex Area

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

Kau-Keaau-Pahoa Complex Area

  • Kau High and Pahala Elementary - SR05A, SR05B
  • Keaau Elementary - SR26A, SR26B
  • Keonepoko Elementary - SR15A, SR15B
  • Mountain View Elementary - SR34A
  • Naalehu Elementary - SR01A, SR02A, SR03A
  • Pahoa Elementary - SR08A and Pahoa High and Intermediate - SR08B

 

Maui

 

Baldwin-Kekaulike-Kulanihakoi-Maui Complex Area

  • Kalama Intermediate - UR13A, UR15A, UR25A, UR30A, UR31A
  • Kekaulike High - UR13A, UR15A, UR25A, UR29A, UR31A

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.

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

Ground Transport continues to recruit new drivers, leveraging the governor’s emergency proclamation to streamline the hiring process. The proclamation allows drivers with a commercial driver’s license and a “P” endorsement — permitting them to transport passengers — to temporarily operate school buses 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.

Michael Tsai covers local and state politics for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at michael.tsai@charter.com.