EXPRESS FAQ
Who is eligible for a county bus pass through the Hawai‘i State Department of Education’s EXPRESS program
- Hawai‘i public high school students in grades 9-12 with an active DOE ID number; and
- Student must attend their home school; and
- Student must reside 1.5 miles or more from their school in their public school attendance area.
HIDOE students with an Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) who have transportation services included in their IEP as a related service should visit the Department’s special education webpage for more information. Charter school and private school students are not eligible to participate in the program.
What is the application process?
The application period will be open on July 15, 2024 and will close on May 18, 2025.
Step 1: Check the respective island transit office website for route information and identify the bus route(s), times, and locations with your student. Please see the bottom of this page for the county transportation office contact information.
Step 2: Check your high school 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.
Step 3: Fill out an online application
here (Applications will be available until May 18, 2025).
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.
Step 4: Upon application submission, passes will be available for pick up at your school office within 7-14 business days.
Step 5: Identify and practice safe walking routes to/from the bus stops at home and at the school. Refer to the public transportation safety information below.
For Kaua‘i: Upon application approval and submission, school staff will notify students when Kaua‘i Bus monthly passes are available for pick up at the office.
For Oʻahu: Upon application approval and submission, HOLO cards will be sent to the school office for distribution.
Please note that the HOLO ID cards used during school year 2023-2024 are invalid for use on TheBus after May 31, 2024.
Due to the ongoing bus driver shortage, some Oʻahu high schools will continue EXPRESS as its sole transportation option for regular education students.
For Maui only: 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.
For Hawaiʻi Island only: Hele-On county bus transportation is currently fare free until December 2025. No passes are available for distribution. Please check the EXPRESS website for links to their respective county transportation office sites for more information on routes and times.
How long are the passes good for?
Passes will be valid through May 31, 2025.
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. Please choose the right option for your student as they cannot change their pass type for the remainder of the year.
For Kauaʻi: If your student has a quarterly bus pass for the regular school bus, it will be deactivated upon receipt of the county bus pass. Students will be asked to exchange their school bus pass when they receive their county bus.
For Oʻahu: If your student has a quarterly bus pass for the regular school bus, it will be deactivated upon application approval of the annual HOLO EXPRESS card. Students will be asked to surrender their regular school bus pass once they receive their HOLO card.
Is there a deadline to sign up for the EXPRESS program?
The application deadline is May 18, 2025
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.
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: thekauaibus@kauai.gov
Download the app: Kauai Bus Tracker
Oʻahu
Website: https://www.thebus.org
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: info@holocard.net
Download the app: HEA-TheBus
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: public.transit@mauicounty.gov
Download the app: https://mauibus.org/
Hawaiʻi Island
Website: http://www.heleonbus.org
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: heleonbus@hawaiicounty.gov
On O‘ahu, 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 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:
Kaua‘i: 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.
O‘ahu: Upon application review and approval, HOLO cards will be distributed to the schools and will be available for pick up within 7-14 business days
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.
Hawai‘i 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.
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 7:30am - 4pm M-F (except City Holidays).
Replacement cards are $2 each at the Transit Pass Office. It is suggested you arrive no later than 3pm 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.
