Transportation

In the 2024-2025 school year so far, the department has hired 125 new drivers and has reinstated 125 of the 138 canceled routes. The improvement is partially due to the department's decision to change the qualifications for school bus drivers.

The newly established Essential Rural Medical Air Transport program is teaming up with Pūlama Ka Heke on Molokaʻi and Lāna‘i Kinā‘ole to allow air transportation for non-emergency medical services that aren't offered on these islands.

Hawaiʻi County council members are questioning whether big investments in mass transit make sense on the state's largest island. HPR's Savannah Harriman-Pote reports.

State Rep. Kanani Souza wants an emergency route built in Makakilo, a community with only one way in and one way out. However, none of the measures she introduced this legislative session got a hearing in the Transportation Committee.

During his State of the City address, Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi announced that the second segment of the Skyline rail will open to the public on Oct. 1. The Conversation talked to HART Director and CEO Lori Kahikina, who was a bit surprised by the commitment.

Two measures, House Bill 1231 and Senate Bill 1009, would add to the fund by increasing fines on vehicle violations.

After a weeklong shutdown of Mokulele Airlines service earlier this month, flight cancellations continue. HPR’s Catherine Cluett Pactol reports the situation is leaving some neighbor island residents with no choice but to make risky crossings by boat for medical care.

House Bill 1486 states that loitering within 20 feet of a bus stop will be considered a disorderly conduct offense. The bill allows law enforcement officers to immediately remove anyone who violates this order.

A local advocacy group is calling on the state Department of Transportation to spend more of its budget on building out alternatives to cars. But HDOT says its priority is to spend what it takes to keep roads safe. HPR’s Savannah Harriman-Pote has more.

There’s trouble on the interisland airline front again as Mokulele Airlines has temporarily halted flights this week. HPR’s Catherine Cluett Pactol has more.