Updated April 26, 2024

The commuter bus application for School Year 2024/2025 will open on May 1, 2024. Open enrollment for bus service is May 1st - May 17th, 2024. You may still apply for commuter bus service after the May 17th close date; however, your child may be waitlisted based on seating availability. Please contact the Transportation Department at 842-8329 for any questions. 

Kamehameha Schools Kapālama Campus operates a fleet of buses to transport students to/from various rural areas on school days. The application for commuter bus service for School Year 2024/2025 is available online, through the Transportation website. Available routes are listed within the Parent Handbook. If you do not reside in an outlying area and do not see your area listed as a service area, bus service may not be available. Applications received after the deadline date may be placed on a waitlist and filled if/as space becomes available. There is a NON-REFUNDABLE ANNUAL SERVICE FEE for bus service. Effective School Year 2024/2025, the non-refundable annual service fee for round-trip commuter service is $1,734.00 and the annual service fee for one-way commuter service is $867.00.

School Bus Transportation Policies

• On KS Campuses, the Transportation Department is responsible for implementing bus transportation, in consultation and coordination with the Poʻo Kumu or applicable school administrator(s). For all other Education Divisions, administrators shall be responsible for designating the appropriate official(s) to implement school bus transportation within their respective programs. All requests for service or change of service should be addressed to the Transportation Department.
• All selected students will be issued bus passes for the applicable school year. Students must scan or show their bus pass to the bus driver when boarding and disembarking the bus. Passes are non-transferable. KS will charge a $10 fee to replace lost, damaged, or stolen passes.
• If an infraction is observed, the driver shall submit a Student Notice of Concern form to the Transportation Manager or designee who will refer the matter to the Poʻo Kumu or appropriate school administrator(s) for follow-up.
• Students and their parents/guardians shall notify the Transportation Department in writing if they decide to discontinue bus transportation services prior to the expiration of the school year. Notification is important so that KS may award transportation to the next applicant on the waiting list.
• We are asking all parents/guardians for kōkua at our pick-up and drop-off points timely. Please drive safely and do not create hazardous or dangerous conditions for our students, bus driver, other parents/guardians, and fellow community members. Do not block the bus with personal vehicles if arriving late to our bus stops. Please be mindful that we represent the school when we are out in these communities.

 

 

• School Bus Passenger Code of Conduct
  • This Code of Conduct shall apply to all passengers riding KS school buses, including KS faculty, staff, students, and authorized guests.
  • KS shall communicate the requirements of the Code of Conduct to KS parents/guardians, students, faculty, and staff passengers through the Parent Handbook.
  • Parents/guardians of student passengers are responsible for instructing their children on applicable safety and behavior expectations for their children, including acquainting themselves with, and discussing with their children, the bus procedures and policy guidelines printed in the Student and Parent Handbooks.
  • KS shall make reasonable efforts to inform non-KS passengers of requirements of the Code.
  • Designated KS administrators, with assistance from the Transportation Manager or designee, may provide training on the Code of Conduct. Instructions shall include procedures for abiding by safety and school rules. Students who do not abide by the Code of Conduct may forfeit their bus riding privileges.

• Code of Conduct
  • Prior to Loading (on the road and at school)
    • Encourage students (especially those in elementary school) to use the restroom prior to boarding the bus.
    • Be on time at the designated school bus stop to keep the bus on schedule.
    • Refrain from horseplay or other boisterous conduct that could pose a danger to the health and safety of the student(s) and/or to others while waiting for the bus.
    • Wait until the bus comes to a complete stop before boarding the bus.
    • Students shall line up in an orderly, single-file manner and not rush to board the bus. Students should board the bus by age with youngest students loading first.
    • If there are no sidewalks or paths, walk to the side of the road facing traffic to get to the bus stop.
    • Use the bus handrail and watch your step when boarding the bus.

• While on the bus
  • Obey all instructions from the bus driver.
  • Do not consume food or beverages on the bus except for water from a lidded container.
  • Refrain from fighting or engaging in other behavior that would endanger the health and safety of oneself or others.
  • Remain properly seated while the bus is in motion. Remain in your assigned seat unless directed to move by bus driver. Do not stand on the seat or sit on the bus floor.
  • Do not throw any objects out of the bus window.
  • In cases of road emergencies, remain in the bus unless directed otherwise by the bus driver.
  • Keep all aisle ways clear of books, packages, coats, and other objects.
  • Refrain from tampering with the bus or its equipment.
  • Treat fixtures on the bus with care. KS will seek reimbursement for any vandalism or other acts of destruction that result in damage to bus seats, windows, etc.
  • Refrain from loud talking, or creating unnecessary confusion, which may divert the driver's attention from operating the school bus.
  • Yelling, obscene language or gestures will not be tolerated.
  • Keep head, arms, and hands inside the bus always.
  • After Leaving the Bus
    • When crossing the street without the assistance of a bus driver, cross at nearby crosswalks or intersections. If no crosswalks or intersections are available, look both left and right to ensure that no vehicles are approaching before crossing. Always avoid crossing at curves or on hills.
    • When crossing the street with the assistance of a bus driver, walk twelve (12) feet in front of the bus and check to see if the alternating red lamps on the top of the bus are flashing. If so, look at the driver and wait for him/her to give you the signal to cross. If the red lamps are not flashing, do not cross. Notify the driver if the lamps are not working and ask for assistance in crossing the street.
    • Passengers shall not be permitted to leave the bus at other than designated bus stops unless proper authorization has been given in advance by school officials.

• Bus Assignments
  • Passengers may be assigned to ride designated buses at specified times and locations.
  • Passengers may not bring guests or friends on the bus unless permission is granted by the Poʻo Kumu or applicable school administrator. Do not make this request to the bus driver unless it is an emergency.
  • Typically, bus drivers will assign seats on the bus for K-6 students.
  • Bus drivers have the authority to rearrange students, as necessary.
  • KS may take corrective action against passengers who violate the Code of Conduct, up to and including forfeiture of bus privileges.

• Reporting of Student Infractions
  • Students are under the direct supervision of the bus driver while riding the bus. The driver shall be responsible for enforcing and reporting any infractions to the school administrator. If faculty or staff is riding the bus, they shall assist the driver with supervision.
  • If an infraction is observed, the driver shall submit a Student Notice of Concern form to the school's Transportation Manager or designee who will refer the matter to the Poʻo Kumu or appropriate school administrator for follow-up. If an emergency exists, the driver shall immediately report the infraction for action.
    • The student's parents shall be notified of the incident.
    • The driver shall not threaten nor order students off the bus enroute.
    • The driver shall not search students nor detain students by force on the bus.
    • If the school administrators are not at the loading area or bus stop, students shall be permitted to leave.
    • If an emergency exists, the driver shall stop at the nearest safe location and make reasonable efforts for self-protection and protection of other passengers. In the event the driver cannot make the protective efforts, the driver shall set the brakes and gear to secure the bus, remove the ignition keys, evacuate passengers from the bus and call for police assistance. The driver shall verbally inform the school of the action taken immediately after completing the run and submit a written report as soon as possible, but not later than two school days after the incident occurs.

• Notice of Use of Video and Audio Recording Devices in Buses
  • For the safety of the passengers and driver, buses utilized by Kamehameha Schools have video cameras installed with audio capability that allows for the recording of oral communications in the interior of the buses.

School Bus Procedures

1. Students and/or their parent/guardian must apply and acknowledge to agree to abide by the policies and procedures as set forth in the Student and Parent Handbook
2. The Transportation Manager or designee shall establish criteria for the awarding of bus service which may consider numerous factors, as appropriate.
3. Students awarded bus service will be issued a bus pass and will be required to scan their bus pass when boarding and exiting the bus for daily commuter routes. This bus pass will be separate from the student's KS ID card and is required for the student to utilize commuter bus service.
4. Replacement of lost student bus passes will be a charge of $10.00 assessed to the student account.
5. Bus passes are non-transferable. Students allowing others to use their pass to board will be subject to disciplinary action and may be removed from the bus roster which may result in the revocation of bus privileges.
6. Any lost and/or found items left on the bus will be turned into the Transportation Office. After 30 days, unclaimed items will be taken to the Thrift Shop located at the KS Bus Terminal on School and Kapālama Street or discarded if rejected by the Thrift Shop.
7. Please be on time at the designated school bus stop to keep the bus on schedule. Please do not litter the areas or create any hazardous or dangerous conditions for our buses and children by driving unsafely or arriving late to the bus stop. Please be considerate of surrounding businesses and their customers. Any inappropriate behavior at our commuter bus stops by parents/guardians or students could result in revocation of bus privilege.
8. Any status changes, or if your child will not require bus service, please inform the Transportation Department in writing, and addressed to:

 

 

Kamehameha Schools
Transportation Department
1887 Makuakane Street
Honolulu, HI 96817   

Transportation Bus Service Guidelines

Introduction

This document has been created for all Kamehameha Schools (KS) parents, students, groups, and other bus service users as an informative point of reference that will clarify the mission, priorities, and operational procedures that serve as guidelines for the KS Transportation Department, Kapālama Campus. It is recommended that all persons utilizing KS bus service familiarize themselves with the information presented here so that they might have a better understanding of how the Transportation Department can best service their needs.

Transportation Mission

The Mission of the Transportation Department is to help fulfill Pauahi’s Mission by providing safe, efficient, and cost-effective transportation services for all our Kamehameha students, faculty, and staff.

Transportation Department Priorities

Student safety is the Transportation Department’s number one priority. All department policies, procedures, and daily practices are developed and implemented with the safety of students in mind. Although there are inherent dangers associated with school bus transportation that cannot be controlled, we strive to minimize the danger to students through regular driver training, compliance with State/Federal requirements, and the expectation of safe behavior practices on the part of parents, students, and staff/groups utilizing KS bus service.
Accommodating Transportation Requests and meeting scheduled time commitments are the department’s second priority. These are both important aspects of Transportation’s bus service and both are equally dependent on the other in helping Transportation to be successful in meeting this priority. To keep transportation costs as low as possible for requesting staff/groups, we try to service as many transportation requests as we can with KS buses. This commitment requires that we schedule trips with minimal travel windows in between trips and makes it imperative that buses depart from all trips at the scheduled times. Students, staff, and groups utilizing bus service should always be at departure points promptly as scheduled and not delay bus departures in any way.
Keeping the Department’s Day to day operations efficient and within the operating budget is Transportation’s third priority and the driving force behind many of the initiatives in place geared toward the efficient use of department resources. In order for Transportation to maximize operational efficiencies and minimize any possible waste of KS resources, buses may be combined on one or more commuter routes if actual passenger counts are less than 50% capacity of the bus and the option of consolidating commuter routes does not impact scheduled arrival times to destinations. The Transportation Department strives to be efficient in all operations and will monitor passenger counts regularly to reduce operating costs whenever possible.

Types of Bus Service

Commuter Bus Service

The primary kuleana of the Transportation Department is the transportation of students to and from Kapālama Campus for AM and PM commuter bus service during the regular school year.

Field Trips and Athletics

To minimize costs to requesting groups and their operating budgets, KS buses will be utilized to provide service for as many field trip and athletic transportation requests as possible. Priority is given to student transportation requests received from groups directly assigned to Kapālama Campus and Outer Island Campuses. KS community programs, Kawaiaha‘o Plaza, and other groups affiliated with KS will also be provided service as a secondary priority and according to the availability of KS buses and or Charter Buses.

Charter Bus Service

Contract charter bus services are budgeted annually for a specific number of commuter bus routes for the regular school year. The total number of commuter routes designated to be chartered each year are not specifically set and are determined by the annual number of applications received for commuter bus service.
Typically, charter bus services are utilized for all transportation requests that cannot be accommodated by KS buses. Charter buses will also be utilized in emergency situations when KS buses have broken down or workforce shortages do not allow for coverage with KS buses. Contract charter bus service may also be arranged by the Transportation Department for Kamehameha Schools programs, groups not directly affiliated with Kamehameha Schools, and or when such arrangements are requested by various KS groups on behalf of non-affiliated groups.

Use of Non-School Approved Commercial Vehicles

When staffing shortages occur and the contracted charter school bus service is unable to provide additional transportation support to and from a school related event or activity, Kamehameha Schools Transportation Department may utilize motor coach services providers to assist with transportation.

Guidelines for Service

As mentioned above, the Transportation Department is primarily tasked with the safe transportation of students to and from Kapālama Campus for designated AM and PM commuter bus routes during the regular and summer school year. Commuter bus service routes and number of buses assigned are not permanent and may be adjusted each year based upon student demographics as indicated by the annual applications received for commuter bus service.

Bus Counts and Commuter Routes

The KS Transportation Department for Kapālama Campus operates 28 Type I school buses and 5 Type II school buses designated for use in transporting KS students. In addition to these fixed assets, the Transportation budget allows for a specific number of commuter bus routes and other Transportation Requests to be chartered out throughout the school year. The total number of commuter routes designated to be chartered each year are not set and will be determined each year by the annual number of applications received for commuter bus service as well as the annual approved campus budget.
The number of buses the Transportation Department has in its motor pool is fixed and as new buses are acquired, the older buses are retired and replaced on a one-for-one basis. Based on historical data for passenger ridership, the number of buses Transportation has is sufficient to meet the demand for bus service.
The maximum number of commuter routes Transportation can service utilizing KS buses (Type I buses) is 25 (twenty-five) with a maximum of 3 (three) additional routes being chartered. Based on historical data, a total of 28 (twenty-eight) total commuter bus routes are sufficient to meet the demand for commuter bus service from outlying service areas.

Bus Capacity

Bus seating capacity is set by the bus manufacturer and all KS buses are either 90 or 84 or 77 passenger (2-3 students to a seat) school buses. For the comfort of students, Transportation will assign 2 (two) students to a seat for commuter bus routes on our Type I school buses which reduces bus counts to 60, 56 and 51 (2 students to a bench seat). However, Transportation may assign three students to a seat as needed to maximize load counts, provide service for waitlisted students, and the consolidation of routes as needed are met. Transportation will not overload buses, transport students without a seat to sit in, allow students to sit on the floor, or put three students in a seat that do not fit within the confines of the seat.
Please Note: Students are considered to be seated within the confines of the seat if their buttocks are fully on the bottom seat and the majority of their back fits against the backrest. Because tripling up of students is normally limited to KES students, we do not anticipate problems with tripling up of students during a normal commuter route service. However, in the event of bus breakdowns or manpower shortages, the combining of routes may be needed and students will be required to triple up as needed. Although we understand that this will normally not make for the most comfortable ride for the student, it will only be done as needed and we will not overload buses when combining routes. There is no safety issue with combination routes provided we do not exceed the maximum passenger capacity per bus and students are sitting within the confines of the seat.

Challenges for SY24-255 – Equipment

We own and maintain a school bus fleet of 28. The current age of the fleet is 11.3 years and will be 7.2 years when we put in service the 2 new buses and the 4 previously leased buses. The downside to this is our current number of seats is 1,644 and with the 6 replacement buses will be 1,628; a loss of 16 seats.

Minimum Route Capacity

To justify bus service for any outlying service area, a minimum count or bus capacity percentage must be met. The minimum number of students needed to justify a commuter bus is 40 (forty) or 70% of a 56 (fifty-six) student bus count. The 56 (fifty-six) count represents the normal student seat counts (2 students to a seat) for our smaller Type I school bus. Transportation will provide commuter buses for service areas based upon this criterion but may combine routes or service areas to meet the minimum count for bus service.
Example: The Waiʻanae service area has 200 students applying for AM commuter bus service and 220 students applying for PM bus service. Transportation will assign (three AM commuter buses with a 60 (sixty) passenger capacity (2 students to a seat) and four buses (combination of 60 and or 56 capacity) for PM commuter service.
The three AM buses can take 180 (one hundred eighty) students with 2 students assigned to each seat. If possible, we will triple up KES students to make room for as many of the 20 (twenty) waitlisted students as possible. Adding a fourth bus would not be an option as 20 (twenty) students would only be 12% of the bus capacity and not meet the 70% or 40 (forty) student minimum to justify an additional bus. However, it might be possible to add a fourth bus and combine it with Nānākuli if the combined number of waitlisted students totaled more than 40 (forty) students or 70% (Note: In order for this combination route scenario to work, the departure times would have to be looked at and arrival times to campus could not be negatively impacted).
The fourth PM commuter bus would be justified due to the 40 (forty) additional students meeting the 70% minimum count. Of course, with the additional open seats, a combination route would be looked at with Nānākuli to maximize the load and provide bus service to as many students as possible.
Combination routes will be implemented at the discretion of the Transportation Department and will only be done if the impact to scheduled departure/arrival times and families/bus riders is negligible. The decision to combine routes can be complicated and several logistical aspects must be taken into consideration before taking this course of action.

Outlying Areas

The overall priority for awarding commuter bus service is based on the physical residency of students living in outlying areas of Oahu. Areas outside the 15 (fifteen) mile radius from Kapālama Campus (in all directions) are considered “outlying areas” and the cut off point for awarding commuter bus service. Students living beyond the 15 (fifteen) mile cut off point will be given first priority for bus service. Commuter bus service may still be offered to students residing between 10 (ten) to 15 (fifteen) miles of Kapālama Campus, provided the demand for bus service in the outlying areas allows for additional buses to be reassigned to these areas without additional cost.
The decision whether to provide service to those areas that are less than15 (fifteen) miles from the campus will be made at the sole discretion of the Transportation Department after considering the annual number of bus applications received, availability of buses/resources, number of waitlisted students, and past practice in servicing certain areas. Priority for assigning students will be made by grade level with KES students being given first priority, KMS students second and KHS students third.

Service Areas

Transportation has traditionally serviced 14 (fourteen) commuter service areas with approximately 78 (seventy-eight) subdivisions from all service areas combined. Although 4 (four) service areas are not or only partially within the 15 (fifteen) mile cut off for commuter bus service, we have managed to continue to provide commuter bus service to these areas. However, priority for commuter bus service will always be given to students living in outlying areas and service for students residing within the 15-mile limit to Kapālama Campus is not guaranteed. If bus service is offered to areas within the 15-mile limit, priority will be given according to the student’s grade level as listed below under “Priorities for Bus Service”.

Commuter Bus Stops

Ideally, commuter bus stop locations are situated to the geographical location that will best suit the area being serviced. Although we make every effort to centralize all our bus stops to the individual service area, we also take other factors into account when selecting bus stop locations such as bus access to and from the stop, time constraints, and locations that can accommodate buses and increased vehicle traffic. Commuter bus stop locations are not permanent and may be moved or adjusted for several reasons such as safety concerns, access issues, negative impact to the community, community complaints, and other reasons. Because of the difficulty in finding suitable locations for our commuter bus stops, we ask that all parents/guardians and students conduct themselves in a cordial, respectful manner, and follow all Transportation rules when at our commuter bus stops. We must always be mindful of the impact our presence has on the community and the general safety of everyone at our bus stops. Reported parent/guardian or student behavior at our commuter bus stops will be addressed on a case-by-case basis and could lead to a student’s removal of bus riding privileges.

Bus Arrival and Departure Times

Bus arrival times at community bus stops for AM commuter routes are 10 (ten) minutes prior to the scheduled departure time. Buses will depart promptly at the scheduled departure time. In times of inclement weather buses may pull into bus stops as soon as they arrive at the location and may board students 15 to 20 minutes prior to the scheduled departure time. However, if arriving early to bus stops buses will not depart the stop early and will keep to the scheduled departure time. It is recommended that parents be at AM bus stops at least 10-15 minutes prior to the scheduled departure time. Any student arrivals to AM bus stops that delay the departure of buses are problematic and may result in disciplinary action for the student. Repeated or ongoing issues with delaying departures of buses will be looked at on a case-by-case basis and could lead to the removal of the student’s bus riding privileges. Any major delays in bus service will be communicated to parents through the automated School Messenger system.
AM commuter bus arrival times to campus are estimated and based off the scheduled departure times from community bus stops. Buses arrive to campus between 6:40am - 7:20am depending on traffic. The timeframe allows for students to be dropped off at all grade levels on campus without the student being late to class, and also allows for early buses to cover AM Terminal shuttles to campus. All AM commuter departure times from community bus stops are set to allow for a campus arrival between the hours of 6:40am and 7:20am. Transportation considers anticipated traffic conditions; bus stop departure times and estimated campus drop times for all grades when determining AM commuter departure times for all routes. No attempts to fine tune departure or arrival times will be made if routes are consistently arriving to campus during the acceptable arrival times under normal traffic conditions.
Bus departure times from campus for PM commuter routes are either 2:40pm (for designated routes with K-6 grade only) or 3:35pm (for designated routes K-12 grade). All students must be at the designated bus stop for their grade level at least 5 (five) to 10 (ten) minutes prior to the scheduled departure time and physically on the bus within 5 (five) minutes of its arrival to the pickup point. All buses are assigned to a loading sequence and may arrive at different grade levels for pickup anytime between 3:15pm and 3:50pm. However, the scheduled departure time for all routes (not assigned to KES 2:40pm load out) is 3:15pm and students must be standing by and ready to board their bus at that time. Buses will not return to pick up students who have missed their bus (grades 7 – 12) as this will delay the arrival time at the community bus stop for all other students on the bus. Students delaying departure of their assigned bus is problematic and subject to disciplinary action. Repeated or ongoing issues with delaying departures of buses will be looked at on a case-by-case basis and could lead to the removal of the student’s bus riding privileges.
PM arrival times at the community bus stops are estimated and based upon the scheduled departure time from campus, and normal traffic conditions. Any delays to the normal drop off time by more than 25 minutes will be communicated to parents through the automated School Messenger system.

Transportation Responsibilities

The Transportation Department is primarily tasked with the safe transport and care of students to and from Kapālama Campus and other KS School sanctioned trips. All students being transported by KS and Charter buses fall under the responsibility of the Transportation Department. Upon the students boarding the bus and departure from the pickup location is the point at which the Transportation Department assumes responsibility for student safety. Transportation does not assume responsibility for students before physical boarding and departure from designated pickup locations or after students have been dropped off at designated locations.
Students being dropped off at commuter bus stops for bus pickup should remain under the supervision of the parent or designated family member until safely on the school bus and departing from the bus stop. Parents or designated family members should make it a point to be at PM commuter pickup points at least 15 (fifteen) minutes prior to the estimated drop off time for their assigned community bus stop. Bus drivers are mindful of KES students and will be watchful for student pickups but do not assume responsibility for any students once they have departed the bus at PM commuter drop points. It is the KES parent/guardian's responsibility to receive their children at the PM commuter drop points.
The Transportation Department is responsible for notifying all bus stakeholders such as parents/guardians, students, and staff of changes, issues, and concerns that impact bus service. Notification may be done by letter or automated notification system.
The Transportation Department is also responsible for the distribution and processing of annual bus application packets for bus service.

Accommodating out of District Requests

If an accommodation can be made, the priority will be according to the grade of the student (youngest to oldest), and second priority according to the date application received. Requests will only be granted if there are no students on the waitlist for the requested service area.

Primary and Courtesy Bus Stops

Except for the North Shore area, all outlying service areas typically have one primary pickup and drop off point for commuter routes during the regular school year. Some areas have additional pickup and drop off points which are considered “courtesy” stops. Courtesy stops are in place for several reasons such as: the size of the service area, geographic residency of students and past practice. Transportation reviews all routes and service areas regularly and may eliminate, realign, or add courtesy bus stops as needed. The primary considerations given when analyzing courtesy bus stops are: if there is a legitimate need, does it serve a substantial number of students in the service area, the safety of the stop location, the longevity of the stop, and the impact to Transportation time commitments/ability to provide bus service. The selection and determination of courtesy stops rests within the sole discretion of the Transportation Department.

It is important to note that Summer School Program decides whether to have courtesy stops for commuter routes during their program. The Transportation Department does not make this decision.

Bus Shortages and Breakdowns

The Transportation Department will make every effort to cover its commitments and provide buses for routes/trips as scheduled. However, there may be times in which we have bus breakdowns, manpower shortages, or other issues that prevent us from providing bus service at the scheduled time. As a safety precaution, no one is allowed to pick up students from a downed bus.  Students will be transferred to another bus to continue to their destination. In the event a bus does not show for a commuter pickup or drop off, all parents should note the following:
AM commuter routes:

• A bus will be dispatched to pick up students; students will not be left without a ride to school.
• A communication will be sent to all parents for significant delays.
• Only in the event of school cancellation will students not be picked up. In which case a communication will be sent notifying all parents of the cancellation of school

PM commuter routes:

• A bus will be dispatched to bring students home.
• A communication will be sent to all parents for significant delays.
• Only in the event of a major road closure or natural disaster will students not be transported home and dropped off at designated drop points. In which case a communication will be sent notifying all impacted parents of the situation and plans to transfer students to their parent's/family’s care

Safety and Expectations

The community sites used for AM and PM commuter bus stops are all situated in public locations and all parents/students utilizing our bus service must be aware of the impact our presence has on the community/area. It is imperative that we are all pono in our actions and treat each other and the commuter bus stop area with aloha when at our commuter bus stops. The expectation of all parents and students is to be courteous while waiting at all bus stops, to follow all rules and instructions given by KS bus drivers, to be safe, and otherwise to represent Kamehameha Schools in a positive manner by not causing any negative impacts that may jeopardize the safety and security of students, parents, the public, or KS use of commuter bus stops.

Priorities for Bus Service

The primary qualification in being awarded commuter bus service is the physical residency of the student and whether the student resides in a designated outlying area.

Annual Application Process

Each year during the first week of May, the Transportation Department will accept online applications for commuter bus service for the following school year. In School Year 2016/2017, the application process was moved from a paper copy to online thru the Transportation website. Students/families seeking bus service must complete the online application process within the open application period. Available routes are listed within the Parent Handbook. If you do not reside in an outlying area and do not see your area listed as a service area, bus service is not available. Each year Transportation receives more requests than can be accommodated and can only provide service within the constraints (budget and equipment) of the Transportation Department. The awarding process is limited to seat availability. Specific routes and grade level assignments are not guaranteed, and all routes will be determined according to applications received. If awarded bus service, the student’s route assignment and specific bus stop location will be provided with the acceptance letter.

Online Application

Commuter bus service is offered to families residing in outlying areas each year in May for the following school year. The Online Application will be available (respectively) in the first week of May. The deadline to submit applications for bus service to Transportation will be toward the end of May. Families failing to submit their commuter bus service to Transportation before the deadline will be waitlisted and only considered for bus service after all applications for bus service received before the application deadline have been awarded bus service.
Applications for bus service are considered based upon the student’s local residence as listed on the bus service application. The Transportation Department will do its best in identifying application errors and contacting parents to make corrections. If selected for bus service, the student will be assigned to their requested route. Changes to route assignments can be requested and will be considered if space is available.

Community Meetings

Community meetings will be held prior to the start of the school year. Parents/guardians of students awarded bus transportation will be informed to sign-up to attend a meeting. Bus passes will be distributed only after attending the community meeting. Any question(s) may be directed to the Transportation Department at 842-8329.

Expectations of Bus Users

The expectations of all students, parents, and staff utilizing KS bus service are to observe all rules, be safety minded, meet the time commitments for bus service, respect KS property/resources, and to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the values of Kamehameha Schools. All passengers are expected to abide by the Passenger Code of Conduct, as set forth in the Student and Parent Handbook. Any incident that involves a violation of the Code will be reported by Transportation to the unit offices, and may result in disciplinary action, including but not limited to forfeiture of bus riding privileges, or release from KS. Transportation is committed to providing safe and efficient bus service for our haumana and KS ‘Ohana and it is expected that all our bus users be likewise committed to contributing to a positive experience for students and their safe transportation.

Closing Statement

The above listed information is intended as a source of reference and should not be considered an all-inclusive depiction of the Transportation Department’s Policies and Procedures. It is our hope that all bus users will read, understand, and utilize the information provided to improve upon their bus service experience. The Transportation Department will continue striving to provide safe and efficient bus service while working toward improving efficiencies and the responsible use of KS resources. Mahalo nui for taking the time to read and understand the Transportation Bus Service Guidelines. Should you have any questions or require any clarifications, please contact the Transportation Department at 842-8329.