A new 24-passenger Maui Economic Opportunity bus with two-wheelchair capacity is in service on Molokai following a blessing last month.

Bus P148, a 2026 Ford Diamond Coach 2800, replaces P131, an 18-passenger 2010 Chevy Aero-Tech 240 bus with 388,000 miles that needed to be replaced based on federal standards. Maui County provided a grant for the new bus.

The blessing by Kahu Jimmy Duvauchelle was held at the MEO office in Kaunakakai on April 21. Others participating in the blessing were Council Member Keani Rawlins-Fernandez, who holds the Molokai residency seat, her aide Hina Hanapi-Hirata, and MEO staff.