News and Rider Alerts

Get your latest updates regarding Hele-On bus service here. If you require additional information about announcements posted here, please call (808) 961-8744 or email heleonbus@hawaiicounty.gov. The announcements are posted in descending order (from the past to the present).

Relocation of Hele-On Bus Stop In Waikoloa Village

Effective August 18, 2014, the Hele-On bus stop will be relocated to lamp post number 22 on Lua Kula Street (further north of existing stop.) There will be a bus stop sign indicating the NEW bus stop area. All buses serving Waikoloa Village, including buses going to/from Hawaii Prepreatory Academy, Parker School and West Hawaii Explorations Academy will serve this location. Additionally, the bus stop just pass the Waikoloa Terrace after the gated driveway will be relocated approximately 100 ft. further down on Laie Street. Please wait for the bus at the new location. All other stops will remain unchanged.

Official Hawaiian Beaches Bus Stops

To increase efficiency, bus stops signs were assembled in Hawaiian Beaches. Therefore, effective Monday, March 17, 2014, buses will only stop at the following designated bus stop locations:

Official Naalehu Bus Stops

The official bus stop location in Naalehu is located at the intersection of Route 11 @ Ohai Road next to the Naalehu School (northbound) and across from Naalehu School (southbound). The bus stops located at the intersection of Kukui Road @ Route 11 near the 76 gas station has been discontinued effective immediately. This bus stop change in Naalehu affects the Pahala/Kona/South Kohala and Ka’u/Volcano/Hilo routes.

Official Bus Stop Towards Hilo Near Orchid Land Drive

For claification to the riding public on the Pohoiki-Pahoa-Hilo route, the flag stop location at Orchid Land Drive is located at the second fire hydrant (which is in the paved area) after Orchid Land Drive when traveling towards Hilo. Please do not wait by the first fire hydrant in the unpaved area as the buses can not safely pull over at this location.

Changes to Baggage Fees - Effective Sunday, March 1, 2015

To promote Hele-On bus services and increase ridership, an executive decision has be made to waive carry-on items and baggage fees. Hele-On will continue to charge for bicycles and pets in an enclosed pet carrier. Prohibited items that are not allowed on the bus will continue to be in effect. Please call (808) 961-8744 or email heleonbus@hawaiicounty.gov if you have any additional questions.

Waikoloa Village Shuttle Last Day of Service

Last day of service will be Friday, July 17, 2015

West Hawaii HCC Palamanui Campus

New stop effective 8/24/2015.

Honokaa Park - NO Smoking Ordinance (, from 10-29-2015, 12:00 AM to 11-05-2015, 01:21 PM)

The Honokaa Park area has been designated as a no smoking area including the roadway fronting the park. In addition signs have been installed along the guard rail across of the park prohibiting tobacco use. Violators are subject to $100 fine for each offense. Buses that stop at Honokaa Park are for restroom breaks and not smoking breaks. Per Section 14-21(b) of the Hawai`i County Code, smoking or the use of any tobacco products or the use of electronic smoking devices shall be prohibited at all County parks and recreational facilities. Please adhere to the No Smoking Ordinance and should you have any questions, contact our office at 961-8744.

Galaxy Note 7 Smartphones Precautions While Riding the Hele-On

 

North Kohala/Waimea Shuttle Last Day of Service on January 30, 2017

 

Change in Waimea Pick-up Location - Bus Shelter on Pukalani Street

 

Parking Relocation for Hilo to South Kohala Resort Buses - Effective Thursday, February 1, 2018

 

NOTICE OF OFFICE RELOCATION Effective Monday, February 26, 2018

 

Draft Transit Master Plan

 

Route Reinstated - Pohoiki, Seaview, & Leilani Estates Effective July 23, 2018

 

Route Delay - 08:00 Pahala to South Kohala Resorts on July 31, 2018

 

Route Detour due to brush fire on August 1, 2018

 

Route Cancellation - Intra Kona 1 on Wednesday, August 8, 2018

 

Route Reinstated - Seaview/Kalapana effective Saturday, August 7, 2018

 

Parking for Hilo to South Kohala Resort Buses - Effective August 21, 2018

 

ALL ROUTES CANCELLED FOR FRIDAY, AUGUST 24, 2018 - UPDATE

 

SCHEDULED ROUTES for August 25 & 26, 2018 (Saturday & Sunday)

 

Limited Hele-On Bus Service on Monday, September 3, 2018 in Observance of Labor Day Holiday

 

Route Cancellation - 12:00 Hilo to Waikoloa Village & 2:30 S. Kohala Resort to Hilo on August 28, 2018

 

Route Cancellation - 12:00 Hilo to Waikoloa Village & 2:30 S. Kohala Resort to Hilo on September 10, 2018

 

Route Delay - Hilo to Kona on September 10, 2018

 

Hurricane Olivia Update

 

Parking Relocation for Hilo to South Kohala Resort Buses - Effective Monday, September 17, 2018

 

Route Delays in Waimea on Saturday, September 15, 2018 due to the Paniolo Parade

 

Route Cancellation - Intra Kona 3 on Monday, September 17, 2018

 

Tuesday, September 18, 20218 - Substitute Buses/Vehicles for Hele-On Routes

 

Wednesday, September 19, 2018 - Substitute Buses/Vehicles for Hele-On Routes

 

Thursday, September 20, 2018 - Substitute Buses/Vehicles for Hele-On Routes

 

Friday, September 21, 2018 - Substitute Buses/Vehicles for Hele-On Routes

 

Monday, September 24, 2018 - Substitute Buses/Vehicles for Hele-On Routes

 

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park - Effective September 24, 2018

 

Bayfront Parking Lot Relocation effective Wednesday, October 10, 2018

 

Relocation of Keaau Stop - Effective October 01, 2018

 

Transit and Multi-Modal Transportation Master Plan

 

Mass Transit to Stop Sales at Baseyard; All Sales to be at Mo'oheau Bus Terminal - Effective November 15, 2019

 

Advisory: Starting Feb. 11 Portion of Ali‘i Drive Reduced to One Lane 24 Hours a Day as Sinkhole Repairs Progress

 

Re-Routing for the 05:40 AM Pahala to Kona & 4:35 PM Kona to Pahala - Effective February 27, 2020 until further notice

 

08:00 Pahala to S. Kohala Resorts - Rescheduled to 11:30 am -- until further notice

 

NEW PROCEDURE for buses - Effective 3/17/2020

 

Route Changes for Pahala to S. Kohala Resorts on Thursday, March 26, 2020

 

NO stops at Mauna Lani Auberge Hotel effective today until further notice

 

New Contractor - Robert's Hawaii - Effective April 01, 2020

 

Hele On Changes

 

ROUTE CANCELLATIONS - Effective Wednesday, April 8, 2020 until further notice

 

Route Changes - EFFECTIVE April 9, 2020 Until Further Notice - REVISION 17

 

Questions/changes regarding Hele On operations

 

NO MASK. NO ENTRY for Ages 2 and older.

Effective Wednesday April 22, 2020--REVISED EFFECTIVE Tuesday, February 2, 2021

Route Change - No Flag Stop at Fujihara Store in Kealia - Effective April 27, 2020

 

Route Change - Removal of Kona Kmart/Macy's Stop Effective May 15, 2020

 

Re-Routing - NO STOPS IN AINALOA SUBDIVISION on May 28, 2020 until further notice

 

RE-ROUTING on Alii Drive NORTHBOUND - Effective August 18 to October 9, 2020 - REVISION 2

 

ROUTE CANCELLATION - 2:20 pm HILO to HONOKAA - Effective Monday, August 31, 2020

 

Route Change in Kona - ABC Store/King Kamehameha Hotel Stop on Alii Drive Temporarily Removed until October 9, 2020

 

ADVISORY - Māmalahoa Highway in Waimea Reduced to One Lane of Travel - Sept. 21 to Oct. 2 & Oct 12 to Oct 16, 2020 (REVISED)

 

RE-ROUTING UPDATE - NO Pick-up in Ainaloa Subdivision – Effective until January 2021

 

ADVISORY - Paving Work in Honoka'a to Commence Oct. 22, 2020 to Feb. 2021

 

ROUTE CHANGES IN HONOKAA TOWN - Effective November 02, 2020

 

Suspension of stop - NO stop at St. Joseph/Pomaikai Senior Housing until further notice

No stop at St. Joseph/Pomaikai Senior Housing until futher notice

Ainaloa Stop to Resume Effective January 7, 2021

 

HILO to KAU & PAHOA 4 Routes to resume travel on Kapiolani St - effective February 4, 2021

 

Memo to Riders - Mandatory Face Covering on Bus & Transit Hubs

 

8:10 AM Waikoloa Village to Kona Extension will resume service on a trail bases on Monday, March 01 to Monday, March 08, 2021 - dated correction

 

Route Delays - March 5, 2021

 

315 SKR bus broke down in Ookala around 440 am.

335 SKR driver picked up riders.