HONOLULU — The Hawaii State Department of Transportation is reinstating another nine previously suspended school bus routes in East Hawaii Island and Upcountry Maui, effective Aug. 26.

What You Need To Know

  • The resumption will restore transportation service to nearly 200 student bus riders at nine schools.
  • Prior to the start of the school year, HIDOE suspended 147 school bus routes in Central Oahu, East Hawaii Island and Central and Upcountry Maui because of an ongoing statewide shortage of school bus drivers and vehicles
  • Last week, HIDOE reinstated 34 previously suspended routes, restoring service to about 1,200 students. Earlier this week, the department announced that another 20 routes in Central Oahu would be reinstated, restoring service to an additional 600 students
  • Bus service contractor Ground Transport Inc. has secured additional drivers and buses by subcontracting with Polynesian Adventure Tours. The latest restored routes will be serviced by buses from GTI, Roberts Hawaii and Polynesian Adventure

The resumption will restore transportation service to nearly 200 student bus riders at nine schools.

Prior to the start of the school year, HIDOE suspended 147 school bus routes in Central Oahu, East Hawaii Island and Central and Upcountry Maui because of an ongoing statewide shortage of school bus drivers and vehicles. The service interruption initially impacted 3,720 students enrolled in school transportation.

Last week, HIDOE reinstated 34 previously suspended routes, restoring service to about 1,200 students. Earlier this week, the department announced that another 20 routes in Central Oahu would be reinstated, restoring service to an additional 600 students.

Bus service contractor Ground Transport Inc. has secured additional drivers and buses by subcontracting with Polynesian Adventure Tours. The latest restored routes will be serviced by buses from GTI, Roberts Hawaii and Polynesian Adventure.

Parents and guardians of student riders will be notified directly of restored routes and any necessary route modifications. The following school bus routes in East Hawaii and Upcountry Maui will resume service on Aug. 26.

HAWAII ISLAND

Hilo-Waiakea Complex Area

  • DeSilva Elementary - TR04B
  • Hilo High - TR04A
  • Hilo Intermediate - TR01A
  • Kalanianaole Elementary & Intermediate - TR01B

Kau-Keaau-Pahoa Complex Area

  • Kau High & Pahala Elementary - SR06A
  • Keaau Middle - SR22A
  • Keaau High - SR32A, SR32B

MAUI

Baldwin-Kekaulike-Kulanihakoi-Maui Complex Area

  • Kekaulike High and Kalama Intermediate - UR18A

Efforts to restore the remaining 84 suspended bus routes are ongoing. Superintendent Keith Hayashi has formally requested assistance from the Hawaii National Guard to support student transportation needs.

Additionally, HIDOE 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 is actively recruiting new drivers, taking advantage of 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.

The proclamation allows drivers with a commercial driver’s license 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.

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