HIDOE to restore one bus route on Maui, six in Central O‘ahu, and seven on East Hawai‘i starting Sept. 23
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The Maui News
WAILUKU--The Hawai'i State Department of Education (HIDOE) announced on Wednesday that 14 previously suspended school bus routes in Central O'ahu, East Hawai'i island and Upcountry Maui will be reinstated starting Monday, Sept. 23, restoring service for more than 250 student bus riders at 10 schools, according to an HIDOE press release.
Maui County will see one Upcountry bus route restored.
The latest restored routes will be serviced by bus service providers Ground Transport Inc. and Roberts Hawaii. Parents and guardians of student riders will be notified directly of restored routes and any necessary route modifications.
The following school bus routes will resume service, effective Monday, Sept. 23:
MAUI
Baldwin-Kekaulike-Kūlanihāko'i-Maui Complex Area: One route
¯ Kekaulike High and Kalama Intermediate – UR16A
O'AHU
Leilehua-Mililani-Waialua Complex Area: Six routes
¯ Mililani Middle – CR06A, CR06B
¯ Wheeler Middle – CR16A, CR16B
¯ Leilehua High – CR15A, CR15B
HAWAI'I ISLAND
Hilo-Waiākea Complex Area: Two routes
¯ Waiakeawaena Elementary, Waiākea Intermediate and Waiākea High – TR11A, TR11B
Ka'ū-Kea'au-Pāhoa Complex Area: Five routes
¯ Keonepoko Elementary – SR16A, SR16B
¯ Mountain View Elementary – SR35A, SR35B
¯ Kā'u High & Pāhala Elementary – SR07A
Following the restoration of the 14 routes next Monday, a total of 96 routes will have been restored. Efforts to restore the remaining 42 suspended bus routes are ongoing.
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 other tour bus operators to further expand capacity.
More updates will be provided as additional bus routes are restored.