#maui school bus

The Hawai‘i State Department of Education is rolling out its 2025–26 student transportation plans early to help families plan ahead amid ongoing driver shortages that have affected school bus routes statewide.

The Hawai‘i State Department of Education announced today that one previously suspended school bus route in Upcountry Maui will be reinstated starting on Monday, Dec. 9, restoring service for nearly 40 student bus riders.

Since the start of the school year in early August, the Department has reinstated 100 bus routes on O‘ahu, Maui and Hawai‘i Island. Service has been restored for 88% of impacted students – 3,263 out of 3,720. Active efforts to restore 38 more routes are ongoing. 

The Hawai‘i State Department of Education announced that nine previously suspended school bus routes in Central Oʻahu, East Hawaiʻi Island and Upcountry Maui will be reinstated starting Monday, Sept. 9, restoring service for nearly 200 student bus riders at seven schools.

Ongoing school bus driver shortage to impact student transportation services on Oʻahu and Kauaʻi in upcoming school year. High school bus routes on Maui and Hawaiʻi Island have been modified due to the bus driver shortages, but school bus service will continue. School bus routes on Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi are currently not affected. School bus routes on all islands are subject to change should further staffing shortages occur.

One witness said the white vehicle was heading south and turned in front of the school bus. The school bus then went over the guardrail and into ditch.

With the restoration of these final two routes, serving Baldwin High and ʻĪao Intermediate, all schools on all islands are receiving bus service as of today.

Two ʻĪao Intermediate bus routes have been restored. Maui’s shortage of qualified school bus drivers is currently at seven, down from 11, three weeks ago.

Progress update on school bus driver shortages on Maui and Kauai; Lahainaluna High bus routes fully restored

Lahainaluna’s bus route FR 11A and FR 11B will be restored to service on Monday morning, Aug. 21. Maui’s shortage of CDL school bus drivers is currently at 11.

State Rep. Angus L.K. McKelvey of Maui is renewing his call for a specific timeline for resolution of the school bus crisis as frustrated parents want to know..

“We had hoped to be fully ready on day one of school, but repeated appeals and challenges of our contract award… set our hiring timetable back,” said Gomes.

Are Maui school bus issues more extensive than what has been reported and what the state has led the public to believe?

Maui’s McKelvey said the lack of qualified drivers should have been disclosed during the procurement process, especially when it is a new Oʻahu based vendor…

Maui High and Maui Waena Intermediate school bus routes will be temporarily consolidated due to a current shortage of drivers.

“Barring a resolution before Tuesday, I strongly urge parents to please make other arrangements for their  children to get to school,” said Mayor Arakawa.

The State Department of Education today announced route modifications to school bus service at Maui High, Lahainaluna High, Baldwin High and ʻĪao Intermediate.

Why does everyone pretend to care about the children but not push this issue?

The “Get on Board” initiative has improved service by streamlining processes and upgrading technology while reducing overall transportation costs by more than $13 million annually.