HIDOE to restore three additional school bus routes in East Hawaiʻi over the next two weeks

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HONOLULU - The Hawai'i State Department of Education (HIDOE) announced today that three previously suspended school bus routes in East Hawaiʻi Island will be reinstated over the next two weeks, restoring service for over 40 student bus riders.

The latest restored routes will be serviced by bus service provider Ground Transport, Inc. Parents and guardians of student riders will be notified directly of restored routes and any necessary route modifications.

The following school bus route will resume service, effective Tuesday, Nov. 12.

Ka'ū-Keaʻau-Pāhoa Complex Area: 1 route

The following school bus routes will resume service, effective Monday, Nov. 18.

Hilo-Waiākea Complex Area: 1 route Ka'ū-Keaʻau-Pāhoa Complex Area: 1 route Following the restoration of these routes, a total of 115 routes will have been restored, representing 83% of impacted routes. Efforts to restore the remaining 23 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.