Beginning Monday, Aug. 12, 34 suspended school bus routes in Hawai‘i are set to be back in operation, a move impacting about 1,200 students across O‘ahu, Maui and Hawai‘i Island. The Hawaii Department of Education, along with Ground Transport Inc. and Roberts Hawaii, made this possible through a new direct contract sessioned by emergency measures from Gov. Josh Green, according to Hawaii News Now.
This action falls under efforts to mitigate a driver deficit that led to the initial suspension; thus, some families can anticipate the return of transport services for their wards, and parents and guardians of the affected students should expect direct notices concerning the updates, including options for bus pass refunds, "We understand how crucial reliable transportation is for our students and their families, and we are committed to doing everything possible to restore these bus routes quickly in working with our contractors," Maui Now reports Superintendent Keith Hayashi as saying.
Restoring these routes aligns with the Department of Education's commitment to ensuring that students have consistent and safe access to education, particularly after the Department of Education announced a temporary suspension of 108 routes in Central O‘ahu and East Hawai‘i Island on Aug. 1, which initially affected nearly 2,900 students and temporarily suspended an additional 39 routes in Central and Upcountry Maui on Aug. 2, affecting 820 students. Amidst the ongoing restorations, 113 suspended routes remain a concern, with the HIDOE looking for solutions, including requesting help from the Hawai‘i National Guard and collaborating with county mayors to augment public transportation usage.
Ground Transport is actively pushing the pedal on driver recruitment, leveraging the governor's emergency proclamation to ease the employment process; this proclamation permits licensed commercial drivers with a "P" endorsement to temporarily man school buses, instead of the "S" endorsement typically required, as per Maui Now. Additionally, conversation is on the table for partnerships with tour bus operators to further stretch transport capacity—and as the wheel of this enterprise turns, more route recoveries shall be communicated to the public. The provisional nature of the plan invites a week-to-week arrangement, seeking stability while the Department of Education and partners steer through these logistical bends.
