The Hawai‘i State Department of Education (HIDOE) announced today that two previously suspended school bus routes serving Pāhoa High & Intermediate, Pāhoa Elementary and Keonepoko Elementary will be reinstated starting next Monday, Feb. 10, restoring service for approximately 36 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 routes will resume service on Monday, Feb. 10: 

Ka‘ū-Kea‘au-Pāhoa Complex Area: 2 routes

• Pāhoa High & Intermediate, Pahoa Elementary – SR10A
• Keonepoko Elementary – SR18A/B

Following the restoration of these routes, a total of 122 routes will have been restored, representing 88% of previously impacted routes. Efforts to restore the remaining 16 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.