We are continuing to work with the four counties and subsidize county bus passes for high schoolers in grades 9-12. The program—called EXPRESS, which stands for Expanding Ridership to Educate Students in Schools—was piloted in the 2022–23 school year to help mitigate the impacts of the ongoing national school bus driver shortage.
eligibility
Important eligibility updates for free county pass applicants:
- Be a Hawaiʻi public high school student in grades 9-12 with an active HIDOE ID number; and
- Attend their home school; and
- Reside 1.5 miles or more from their school in their public school attendance area.
The application period will open on July 15, 2024, and close on May 18, 2025. If your child has special needs and has an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or Modified Plan (MP) that includes transportation as a related service, please call your district educational specialist for more information.
Application process
Your student may only use one transportation option at a time. If your child has an existing regular school bus pass, they will have to discontinue this service if they choose to apply for an EXPRESS pass. EXPRESS applications will be approved on an annual basis. Please choose the right option for your child as they cannot change their pass type for the remainder of the year. For families that do not meet the transportation eligibility criteria, please see your county’s bus agencies for more information on purchasing a youth pass.
Steps to Apply
- Check the respective island transit office website for route information and identify the bus route(s), times and locations with your child.
- Check your high school student’s transportation eligibility:
- Fill out an online application here (Applications will be available until May 18, 2025). Transportation eligibility will be determined by the home and school location in Infinite Campus. You will be notified during this process if your student is approved for an EXPRESS pass.
- Upon application submission, passes will be available for pick up at your school office within seven to 14 business days.
- Identify and practice safe walking routes to/from the bus stops at home and at the school.
County bus information
KAUA‘I
Website: https://www.kauai.gov/Transportation
Bus schedules: https://www.kauai.gov/BusSchedules
Rider rules/safety information: https://www.kauai.gov/Government/Departments-Agencies/Transportation/Carry-On-Items-Prohibited-Activities
Phone number: 808-246-8110
Email
Download the app: Kauai Bus Tracker
O‘AHU
Website: https://www.thebus.org
Bus schedules: https://www.thebus.org/Route/Routes.asp
Plan your trip: https://www.thebus.org/PlanYourTrip.asp
Rider rules/safety information: https://www.thebus.org/howtoride/RulesReg.asp?l=
Phone number: 808-768-4656 (HOLO)
Phone number: 808-848-5555, ext 5 (TheBus Customer Service)
Email
Download the app: HEA-TheBus
MAUI
Website: https://www.mauicounty.gov/bus
Bus tracking: https://mauibus.org/
Rider rules/safety information: https://www.mauicounty.gov/606/Bus-Rules
Phone number: 808-871-7651
Email
Download the app: https://mauibus.org/
HAWAI‘I ISLAND
Website: http://www.heleonbus.org
Bus schedules: http://www.heleonbus.hawaiicounty.gov/getting-around/bus-schedules-and-maps
Rider rules/safety information: https://www.heleonbus.hawaiicounty.gov/getting-around/riding-on-hele-on-buses
Phone number: 808-961-8744, option 1
Email
Application Approval by Island
- Kauaʻi: Upon application approval and submission, school staff will notify students when Kauaʻi Bus monthly passes are available for pick up at the office.
- Oʻahu: Upon application approval and submission, HOLO cards will be sent to the school office for distribution.
- Maui: The Maui Bus Fixed Route service currently allows students with a valid ID ages 24 years and younger to ride for free. Students shall present their valid ID to the driver upon entering the fixed route bus.
- Hawaiʻi Island: Hele-On county bus transportation is currently fare-free until Dec. 2025. No passes are available for distribution.
Application Deadline
The EXPRESS County Bus Pass Program is open and accepting applications until May 18, 2025.
FAQ
If the FAQ does not address your question, please email us. Please note responses may take time depending on the volume of questions received.
How long are the passes good for?
Passes will be valid through May 31, 2025.
Can I apply for a county bus pass and a regular school bus pass?
HIDOE students may only use one (1) transportation option at a time. If your child has an existing regular school bus pass, they will have to discontinue this service if they choose to apply for an EXPRESS pass. EXPRESS applications will be approved on an annual basis. Please choose the right option for your child as they cannot change their pass type for the remainder of the year.
For Kauaʻi: If your child has a quarterly bus pass for the regular school bus, it will be deactivated upon receipt of the county bus pass. Your child will be asked to exchange their school bus pass when they receive their county bus.
For Oʻahu: If your child has a quarterly bus pass for the regular school bus, it will be deactivated upon application approval of the annual HOLO EXPRESS card. Your child will be asked to surrender their regular school bus pass once they receive their HOLO card.
How do I find out what route and bus stop to use?
Please contact the island specific county transportation office customer service using the contact information provided below.
Kauaʻi
Website: https://www.kauai.gov/Transportation
Bus schedules: https://www.kauai.gov/BusSchedules
Rider rules/safety information: https://www.kauai.gov/Government/Departments-Agencies/Transportation/Carry-On-Items-Prohibited-Activities
Phone number: 808-246-8110
Email
Download the app: Kauai Bus Tracker
Oʻahu
Website: https://www.thebus.org
Bus schedules: https://www.thebus.org/Route/Routes.asp
Plan your trip: https://www.thebus.org/PlanYourTrip.asp
Rider rules/safety information: https://www.thebus.org/howtoride/RulesReg.asp?l=
Phone number: 808-768-4656 (HOLO)
Phone number: 808-848-5555, ext 5 (TheBus Customer Service)
Email
Download the app: HEA-TheBus
Maui
Website: https://www.mauicounty.gov/bus
Bus tracking: https://mauibus.org/
Rider rules/safety information: https://www.mauicounty.gov/606/Bus-Rules
Phone number: 808-871-7651
Email
Download the app: https://mauibus.org/
Hawaiʻi Island
Website: http://www.heleonbus.org
Bus schedules: http://www.heleonbus.hawaiicounty.gov/getting-around/bus-schedules-and-maps
Rider rules/safety information: https://www.heleonbus.hawaiicounty.gov/getting-around/riding-on-hele-on-buses
Phone number: 808-961-8744, option 1
Email
On Oʻahu, what if my child(ren) already has a HOLO Card?
The student passes that we are distributing are separate from the Youth HOLO Cards, but will function the same as the HOLO Card on TheBus and Skyline.
Will the Hawai’i State Department of Education reimburse families for city and county bus passes already purchased?
No.
How many rides does the county bus pass include?
The monthly passes include unlimited rides per month.
How will the bus passes be distributed?
Distribution of passes will vary by island:
Kauaʻi: Bus passes will be distributed as they become available by the county public transit office and will be distributed to the school(s) prior to the first of the following month.
Oʻahu: Upon application review and approval, HOLO cards will be distributed to the schools and will be available for pick up within 7-14 business days
Maui: The Maui Bus Fixed Route service currently allows students with a valid ID ages 24 years and younger to ride for free. Students shall present their valid ID to the driver upon entering the fixed route bus.
Hawaiʻi Island: Hele-On county bus transportation is currently fare free until December 2025. No passes are available for distribution.
What if my county bus pass is lost, stolen or damaged?
For Kauaʻi
Due to the nature of the monthly pass, only one pass is issued to a student. If it is lost/stolen, they will have to wait until the following month to receive the new one.
For lost or stolen HOLO cards (Oʻahu only)
Option 1: For an online replacement — DOE Express Replacement Card Form
Replacements are free and will be mailed in 5-7 business days.
Option 2: Go to the Transit Pass Office (at Kalihi Transit Center, corner of Middle Street and Kamehameha Hwy) between 7:30 a.m.–4 p.m., Monday–Friday (except City Holidays).
Replacement cards are $2 each at the Transit Pass Office. It is suggested you arrive no later than 3 p.m. in case there is a line.
Can the county bus pass be utilized for ADA and/or Paratransit services?
County bus passes for ADA and Paratransit services are not included in this program. Please visit the Department’s special education webpage for more information on transportation options.
Are regular school bus passes also free?
The eligibility requirements for a free school bus pass have not changed. Please refer to the school bus application handbook (PDF) for more information.
Can I go to the county transportation office to pick up my student’s pass?
No, the initial bus passes will be distributed to the school office. Please refer to the “lost/stolen/damaged” card procedure above regarding replacement cards.
What if we applied for a county bus pass and then changed our minds?
EXPRESS applications will be approved on an annual basis. Please choose the right option for your student as they cannot change their pass type for the remainder of the year. If you choose to cancel your existing EXPRESS pass for a school bus pass, you will not be able to reinstate it for the remainder of the school year.