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556 Waianuenue Avenue, Hilo, HI 96720 Phone: (808) 313-5500 | Fax: (808) 974-4036
Parents and Students » School Bus Services

School Bus Services

Bus Schedules

Regular Education School Bus Service

Due to limited seat availability, the Hawai'i State Department of Education (HIDOE) recommends that you register as soon as the application period opens.

 

The 2026-2027 school year (SY) application is available on the HIDOE’s "Transportation" webpage and eTrition (https://hi.etrition.com/busapplication). Paper applications are also available upon request at the main office.

 

*IMPORTANT UPDATE*

STSB now requires two supplemental forms, which can be found at the bottom of this page, to be submitted with initial bus applications:

  1. SY2026-27 Sharing Information - this form allows the school to share student meal eligibility with STSB. In other words, it allows the school to disclose whether or not a student qualifies for a Free bus pass. Any families applying for a Free bus pass must submit a Sharing Information form for consideration. Failure to do so will default your student to Paid ridership. This form is valid for the 2026-2027 school year and only needs to be turned in once.
  2. School Bus Behavior Acknowledgement Form - this form is a signed agreement by the parent/guardian and student that they have read and understood the DOE's Passenger Safety Code. By signing, riders and families consent to following proper bus behavior for safety and continued service. 

Quarterly Application Periods

 

All school bus applications, for paid and free-qualified students, must be submitted, reviewed, and approved on a quarterly basis per the schedule provided below:

 

Quarter 1: July 13, 2026 - August 7, 2026

Quarter 2: September 14, 2026 - October 12, 2026

Quarter 3: December 7, 2026 - January 8, 2027

Quarter 4: February 22, 2027 - March 22, 2027

 

Any applications that have not been paid or are pending approval after the application window closes will automatically be denied and cleared from the queue. Applications submitted outside of these periods will also be denied.

 

No Grace Period

All riders are expected to show drivers their temporary or permanent bus passes at the start of bus service.

 

Quarterly Pass and Payment Information

 

For Paid riders, only quarterly bus passes (roundtrip or one-way) will be available for purchase.

  • $72 roundtrip (AM and PM)
  • $36 one-way (AM only or PM only)

 

To be eligible for Free bus service, students must meet one (1) of the following:
  • Student receives free meals (upon direct certification qualification)
  • Student is a foster child
  • Student is home-displaced and eligible for benefits under the McKinney-Vento Act (MVA)
  • Student is directed by HIDOE to attend a school outside of the home school attendance area
  • Student has at least three (3) older siblings who pay the transportation fee at their respective schools

 

All students are required to pay $5 for a replacement hard pass to the school office (cash only).

  

Payment Options

Payments must be made prior to the application window closing or the application will be cancelled in SBT.

  • Cash and money order payments can be made at the main office. Personal/business checks will not be accepted.  Temporary bus passes will be provided at time of payment.
  • Electronic payments will only be available for applications submitted online. Once an application is approved in SBT by school office personnel, applicants should receive an email notification. Payment can then be made through EZSchoolPay. Receipts for electronic payments will serve as the student's temporary bus pass. 

*IMPORTANT:  Effective July 1, 2026, EZSchoolPay will offer two payment options:

  • Electronic Check (eCheck): No transaction fee.
  • Credit Card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express): $2.75 per transaction fee. 

 

There will be NO REFUNDS for bus service payments.

 

Student Eligibility for Bus Transportation

 
To be eligible for transportation, high school students must be:
  • Enrolled at their home school (not attending on a Geographic Exception (GE))
  • Live a minimum of 1.5 miles away.
For students who do not meet the transportation eligibility requirements above, exceptions may be made on a space-available basis. Please note, this is not a guarantee. Additionally, exceptions are for riders requesting home-school-home transportation not for riders requesting another bus route and stop for convenience's sake. This poses a safety risk for students, families, schools, and bus contractors.
 
Families who wish to apply for space available bus service must submit the Request to Ride the School Bus on a Space Available Basis (CS-101) form (available at the bottom of this page) with a physical school bus application on a quarterly basis. CS-101s are processed after the quarterly window closes. Approval must be made by the school administration and District Transportation Officer. Riders approved on a space available basis will not be eligible for free transportation.
 
Until both the CS-101 and bus application are approved and paid for, families are responsible for their student's transportation arrangements. This process may take between 4-6 weeks so please plan accordingly.

How to Apply for Bus Services

1. Applying
  • For online applications, please visit hi.etrition.com/busapplication.  You will need your child's DOE Identification Number which can be located on Infinite Campus or on their school schedules.
  • Paper applications are available at the main office upon request.
    • For riders who would like to apply for a Free bus pass, please select "Free" for "Payment Plan" on the online application.  
      • Submit a Sharing Information form to the main office.
      • BE APPROVED by the State based on household size and income. The school will notify you if your child does not qualify for a Free bus pass. 
2. Payment
Students who qualify for a Free bus pass may skip this step.
  • Cash and money orders can be paid at the main office. Checks will not be accepted.
  • Electronic payments for online applications can be made at EZSchoolPay after you receive an email confirmation approving your application.
3. Temporary Passes / Receipts
  • If you pay online, a receipt will be generated through EZSchoolPay. This receipt will be your student's temporary bus pass.
  • Temporary passes will be printed for applicants who pay at the main office and/or for families that are unable to print their pass at home.
**BUS PASS PROCEDURES**
  • All students are expected to display their bus pass to the bus driver upon entering the bus and on demand.  Service may be refused if a student fails to do so.
  • For both AM and PM services, if a student is unable to display their valid pass because it was lost/misplaced/forgotten, the bus driver is expected to check the rider manifest to confirm the student’s eligibility status (Hawaii Administrative Rules ڎ-28-3). 
  • If a replacement pass is required, the student must provide proper identification for name verification on the rider manifest and will be required to purchase a replacement pass at school.
  • If the student is found to be riding in the AM with only a one-way PM pass, they will be reported by the driver to the school and Student Transportation Administrative Office. 
  • If the student does not have their pass for the PM trip and is not on the rider manifest, they may be denied service.
  • If any student attempts to ride without a valid pass, no matter the grade level, up to three (3) times consecutively, the Department reserves the right to revoke rider privileges up to a semester or for the rest of the year if applicable.
  • The receipt will act as the temporary pass until the hard pass is made available at the school.
  • If the student is not on the rider manifest, they will be denied service.
  • If the student needs to upgrade their current PM one-way pass to a round-trip pass, this will need to be taken care of before the end of the school day or the parent/guardian will be responsible for taking their student to school the next day.