TheBus (Hawaii County)

TheBus (Hawaii County)
Name	TheBus (Hawaii County)
Locale	Hilo, Hawaii County, Hawaii
Service type	Public transport
Operator	Hawaii County Department of Transit

TheBus (Hawaii County) is the public transit system operated by Hawaii County on the island of Hawaii Island, centered on Hilo and serving communities such as Kailua-Kona, Waimea and Pahoa, Hawaii. The system provides fixed-route bus service connecting residential neighborhoods, commercial centers, medical facilities like Hilo Medical Center, and educational institutions including University of Hawaii at Hilo and Hawaii Community College. Funded through county budgets, federal transit grants under programs administered by the Federal Transit Administration and state allocations from the Hawaii State Legislature, the agency coordinates with island planning by the Hawaii County Planning Department.

History

Operation traces to county initiatives in the late 20th century when municipal leaders in Hawaii County and officials from Hawaii State Legislature sought to expand island mobility after population growth linked to agricultural shifts in Kohala and tourism expansion around Kona International Airport at Keahole. Early buses replaced informal van services used by workers traveling between Hilo and the sugarcane districts around Pahoa. Federal funding via the Urbanized Area Formula Grants (Section 5307) and rural transit programs under the Federal Transit Administration funded vehicle procurement and facilities upgrades during the administrations of Hawaii County mayors such as Bernice Pauahi Bishop (historic patronage influences) and later county executives. Partnerships with organizations like AARP and health advocates emerged to improve senior mobility and link transit planning to Hawaii County Office of Aging programs.

Services and Routes

The county operates fixed-route services covering urban corridors such as Hilo’s Kamehameha Avenue and routes connecting to landmarks like Queen Liliuokalani Park and Gardens and the Lyman Museum and Mission House. Commuter-oriented links serve Kailua-Kona corridors near Alii Drive and provide cross-island connections toward Waimea (Kamuela). Routes are timed to serve shifts at employers like Hilo Medical Center and PICHTR affiliates, while coordinating with paratransit trips required under regulations referenced by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Special event services have operated for festivals such as Merrie Monarch Festival and cultural gatherings at venues like Hawaii Volcanoes National Park visitor centers, with seasonal adjustments to address tourism influx tied to Mauna Kea astronomy events and surf competitions at Honoli‘i Beach Park.

Fleet and Facilities

The fleet consists of diesel and compressed natural gas vehicles procured from manufacturers that supply to U.S. municipal agencies; maintenance occurs at county-operated garages near Hilo and remote yards closer to Kona. Facilities include transfer hubs adjacent to Hilo International Airport and park-and-ride lots that link to state highways such as Hawaii Belt Road (Route 11). Investments have targeted vehicle accessibility features compliant with standards promoted by the U.S. Department of Transportation and procurement practices influenced by federal Buy America provisions. Maintenance partnerships have involved technical training collaborations with University of Hawaii at Hilo trades programs.

Ridership and Funding

Ridership reflects a mix of commuters, students from University of Hawaii at Hilo and Hawaii Community College, seniors, and tourists visiting destinations like Akaka Falls State Park and Pu‘uhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park. Annual passenger counts are influenced by economic sectors such as hospitality centered in Kailua-Kona and federal grant cycles from the Federal Transit Administration. Funding combines county general fund appropriations authorized by the Hawaii County Council, state transit assistance from the Hawaii State Department of Transportation, and capital grants from federal infrastructure legislation administered through entities like the U.S. Department of Transportation. Farebox recovery rates interact with operating subsidies tied to disaster relief after events involving Kīlauea volcanic activity and emergency response coordination with agencies such as Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Accessibility and Fare Structure

The system provides ADA-compliant paratransit service for eligible riders in line with rules promulgated under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and coordinates eligibility determinations with county social services offices. Fare levels, concessions for seniors associated with AARP membership outreach, and student passes for institutions like University of Hawaii at Hilo are set by county policy and adjusted with input from advisory committees including representatives from Hawaii County Office of aging and transit advocacy groups. Fare collection methods have included cash and prepaid passes, with periodic pilots for electronic fare systems similar to those adopted by transit agencies such as King County Metro and Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

Future Plans and Development

Planning documents prepared by the Hawaii County Planning Department and studies funded in part by the Federal Transit Administration outline potential service expansions to growing neighborhoods around Volcano Village and infrastructure upgrades to support alternative-fuel buses similar to deployments on Oahu and Maui County. Coordination with statewide initiatives by the Hawaii State Department of Transportation and research partnerships with the PICHTR and University of Hawaii system may foster electrification pilots and resilient routing to mitigate hazards from Kīlauea eruptions and coastal climate impacts identified by NOAA. Capital plans reference grant programs under federal infrastructure acts administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation and seek community input through hearings of the Hawaii County Council and stakeholder workshops involving representatives from Hilo Bayfront Development Corporation and tourism boards.

Category:Public transport in Hawaii County