HIDOE to restore three additional school bus routes in East Hawaiʻi on Monday, Nov. 4

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 starting Monday, Nov. 4, restoring service for nearly 50 student bus riders at two schools.

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, effective Monday, Nov. 4.

HAWAI'I ISLAND

Hilo-Waiākea Complex Area: 1 route

• Waiākea Intermediate - TR10A

Ka'ū-Keaʻau-Pāhoa Complex Area: 2 routes

• Keonepoko Elementary - SR17A, SR17B

Following the restoration of the three routes next Monday, a total of 112 routes will have been restored, representing 81% of impacted routes. Efforts to restore the remaining 26 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.