The state Department of Education on Thursday announced it will restore two previously suspended school bus routes in East Hawaii starting Monday.
The restored routes, SR09A and SR09B, service Pahoa Elementary and Pahoa High & Intermediate schools in the Ka‘u-Keaau-Pahoa Complex Area.
The routes were among dozens that were suspended at the start of the school year due to a shortage of bus drivers.
The latest restored routes will be serviced by Ground Transport Inc.
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, according to the DOE.