With the continual down trend of available qualified school bus drivers, the Hawai‘i State Department of Education (Department) has continued to partner with the four counties in a collaborative effort to provide transportation options for HIDOE students. The EXPRESS program–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. Effective school year 2025-2026, EXPRESS will extend availability to students attending middle and/or intermediate schools statewide.
eligibility
Important eligibility updates for free county pass applicants:
- Be a Hawaiʻi public school student attending middle and/or intermediate or high school with an active HIDOE ID number; and
- Attend their home school (no Geographical Exemptions); and
- Reside 1.5 miles or more from their home school in their public school attendance area. Walkzone is calculated from the recorded home address in Infinite Campus to the nearest public access for the school campus (not from the main office).
The application period will open on July 14, 2025, and close on May 12, 2026.
If your child has an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or Modified Plan (MP) that includes transportation as a related service, please contact your district educational specialist (DES) for more information.
For students eligible under the McKinney-Vento Act (MVA), all bus pass requests must be submitted using the School Bus Application form (ST-70) and completed MV-1 form. For assistance with the county bus pass process, please contact your complex area MVA liaison.
Application process
Your student may only use one transportation option at a time.
If your student 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 student 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 student’s transportation eligibility:
- Check the distance from your student’s listed home address (as recorded in Infinite Campus) to home school.
- If the distance is 1.5 miles or more and your student is not attending school on a GE, then your student qualifies for a free EXPRESS pass.
- Fill out an online application here (Applications will be available until May 12, 2026). 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 ten (10) to 14 business days.
- Due to high volume requests at the beginning of the year, delays may occur to printing errors and delivery time. Please plan accordingly.
- Identify and practice safe walking routes to/from the bus stops at home and at the school.
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 12, 2026.
FAQ
If the FAQ does not address your question, please email us at [email protected]. Please note responses may take time depending on the volume of questions received.
How long are the passes good for?
Passes will be valid from August 1, 2025 to May 31, 2026.
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 a student 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 (one time per school year). If a student chooses to cancel their EXPRESS pass at any time, they cannot re-apply for the remainder of the school year due to purchasing restrictions.
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.
On Oʻahu, what if my child(ren) already has a HOLO Card?
The student passes that the Department is 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 10-14 business days. Delivery times may vary due to high volume. Please plan accordingly.
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 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.
COUNTY BUS INFORMATION
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: [email protected]
Download the app: Kauai Bus Tracker
Oʻahu
Website: https://www.thebus.org
- To Purchase a Youth HOLO card: https://www.thebus.org/Fare/YouthFare_submitFormNew.asp
- 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: [email protected]
Download the app: HEA-TheBus (available on iOS and Android)
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: [email protected]
Download the app: https://mauibus.org/
Hawaiʻi Island
Website: https://www.heleonbus.hawaiicounty.gov/
- 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: [email protected]