Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Please scroll down to view some of our most commonly asked questions by subject.
Bus Application
Q: Should I wait to complete a bus application until I hear from Financial Aid?
A: No, please complete a bus application as soon as possible. Bus seats are limited, and most routes fill up quickly. If you do not receive Financial Aid, you can cancel at a later point in time.
Q: How are bus seats awarded?
A: On a first-come, first-serve basis. We sort the applications by the bus route and then sort the applications by the timestamp the bus application was submitted. Bus seats are then awarded to the first 58 applicants and so on.
Q: Can I change my bus route(s)?
A: Yes, please submit your request in writing (email) to the Transportation Department. You can submit a change any time during the school year. However, please keep in mind we can only change the bus route(s) if there is available seat. If there are no seats available, we can place your child on the waitlist.
Q: If my child is placed on the waitlist, when will a seat be available?
A: Unfortunately, if your child is placed on the waitlist there is no guarantee a seat will become available. If someone decides to cancel or change their bus route, then the available seat will be awarded to the next person on the waitlist and so on.
Q: When will I find out if my child got awarded a seat on the bus?
A: Bus Seat Award Letters and bus passes are normally mailed out in the beginning of July. Therefore, you should receive the envelope around the middle to the end of July. Sometimes it takes a few weeks to be received in the USPS mail.
Bus Pass
Q: My child's bus pass broke by the hole for loop, but it still scans. What can I do?
A: Your child can go to the ES/MS/HS Office and let them know. The Office has plastic ID holders (no charge) so your child can still attach the pass to a backpack or lanyard. DO NOT manually alter the bus pass, because it could damage the internal electronic components causing the bus pass to not scan properly. An RFID chip and wire is located along the perimeter of the bus pass.
Bus Stop
Q: Will the bus leave without my child if he/she is not waiting at the bus stop location?
A: Yes, the student must be waiting at his/her bus stop. The bus will not wait or turn around for any students who have missed the bus. For everyoneʻs safety, please do not stop the bus once it is moving. If your child misses the bus, the parent/guardian must make their own arrangements to get their child to campus.
Q: What happens if I miss picking up my elementary student on time?
A: Elementary students going to Wong Stadium, Prince Kūhiō Plaza, or on the Pāhoa bus route will be returned to the Elementary School. Parents will be required to pick up their child from school. For country-runs (Waimea, Honokaʻa, or Kaʻū) the bus driver will hold the child on the bus and continue on the bus route. You can drive to the next bus stop location to catch-up to the bus. Please call the Transportation Department so they can notify the bus driver.
Q: I am waiting for my child at the bus stop or parent pick up, but am unable to find him/her?
A: Please call the Transportation Department immediately. All KS buses are equipped with Zonar Systems, which allows us to track students who scan on/off with the RFID bus pass. The Transportation Department may also check with the ES/MS/HS Office to see if your child is still on campus.
Q: What should I do if my child's bus is running late?
A: Please keep in mind that traffic, weather, construction and more can affect the scheduled pick-up and drop-off times. You can contact Transportation and we will check with the bus driver to see if the bus is delayed. If the bus is continuously late, please contact Transportation and our team will look into the possible cause(s). Note: it is common during the beginning of the school year for buses to run slightly behind schedule as everyone needs to get familiarized with riding the bus.
Q: The bus driver said that parents/guardians are not allowed on the bus. Is that true?
A: Yes, parents are not allowed on the bus. If you need to speak with the bus driver, you may stand outside of the bus door and do so.
Health and Safety
Q: Where can I find information regarding keeping my keiki safe on the school bus?
A: https://www.ksbe.edu/back_to_school/hawaii/health_and_safety/
Miscellaneous
Q: I would like to report a concern or complaint. However, I am unsure if I should report it or who to report it to?
A: We encourage everyone (parents, guardians, students, community, etc.) to please speak-up and voice your concerns/complaints to the Transportation Department as soon as possible. The sooner Transportation is notified, the sooner we can look in to the concern/complaint. It is helpful if you provide details of the event: date, time, names, license plates, description of event, etc. Transportation can review audio/video footage, therefore the date and time are especially helpful to facilitate the investigation. You may send us an e-mail or give us a call.
Q: The bus is at "maximum capacity." Why doesn't the bus appear to be filled with students?
A: The number of students assigned to a bus vs. students who actually ride the bus differs for several reasons: students are out sick, students are driven to/from school, students catch the evening/activities bus instead of the afternoon bus route, students have a space-available bus pass for a different bus route, etc.
Q: Who do I contact if my child lost or forgot an item on the bus?
A: Call or email the Transportation Office. All Lost & Found items are delivered to the Transportation Office and held for 30 days. After 30 days unclaimed items will be taken to a local thrift shop or discarded if rejected by the thrift shop.
Q: What does Financial Aid cover?
A: Financial aid awards cover tuition and transportation (bus fees) and are given on a full or partial basis. All students will pay a $100 Minimum Family Contribution which is NOT covered by financial aid.
Please scroll down to view some of our most commonly asked questions by subject.
Bus Application
Q: Should I wait to complete a bus application until I hear from Financial Aid?
A: No, please complete a bus application as soon as possible. Bus seats are limited, and most routes fill up quickly. If you do not receive Financial Aid, you can cancel at a later point in time.
Q: How are bus seats awarded?
A: On a first-come, first-serve basis. We sort the applications by the bus route and then sort the applications by the timestamp the bus application was submitted. Bus seats are then awarded to the first 58 applicants and so on.
Q: Can I change my bus route(s)?
A: Yes, please submit your request in writing (email) to the Transportation Department. You can submit a change any time during the school year. However, please keep in mind we can only change the bus route(s) if there is available seat. If there are no seats available, we can place your child on the waitlist.
Q: If my child is placed on the waitlist, when will a seat be available?
A: Unfortunately, if your child is placed on the waitlist there is no guarantee a seat will become available. If someone decides to cancel or change their bus route, then the available seat will be awarded to the next person on the waitlist and so on.
Q: When will I find out if my child got awarded a seat on the bus?
A: Bus Seat Award Letters and bus passes are normally mailed out in the beginning of July. Therefore, you should receive the envelope around the middle to the end of July. Sometimes it takes a few weeks to be received in the USPS mail.
Bus Pass
Q: My child's bus pass broke by the hole for loop, but it still scans. What can I do?
A: Your child can go to the ES/MS/HS Office and let them know. The Office has plastic ID holders (no charge) so your child can still attach the pass to a backpack or lanyard. DO NOT manually alter the bus pass, because it could damage the internal electronic components causing the bus pass to not scan properly. An RFID chip and wire is located along the perimeter of the bus pass.
Bus Stop
Q: Will the bus leave without my child if he/she is not waiting at the bus stop location?
A: Yes, the student must be waiting at his/her bus stop. The bus will not wait or turn around for any students who have missed the bus. For everyoneʻs safety, please do not stop the bus once it is moving. If your child misses the bus, the parent/guardian must make their own arrangements to get their child to campus.
Q: What happens if I miss picking up my elementary student on time?
A: Elementary students going to Wong Stadium, Prince Kūhiō Plaza, or on the Pāhoa bus route will be returned to the Elementary School. Parents will be required to pick up their child from school. For country-runs (Waimea, Honokaʻa, or Kaʻū) the bus driver will hold the child on the bus and continue on the bus route. You can drive to the next bus stop location to catch-up to the bus. Please call the Transportation Department so they can notify the bus driver.
Q: I am waiting for my child at the bus stop or parent pick up, but am unable to find him/her?
A: Please call the Transportation Department immediately. All KS buses are equipped with Zonar Systems, which allows us to track students who scan on/off with the RFID bus pass. The Transportation Department may also check with the ES/MS/HS Office to see if your child is still on campus.
Q: What should I do if my child's bus is running late?
A: Please keep in mind that traffic, weather, construction and more can affect the scheduled pick-up and drop-off times. You can contact Transportation and we will check with the bus driver to see if the bus is delayed. If the bus is continuously late, please contact Transportation and our team will look into the possible cause(s). Note: it is common during the beginning of the school year for buses to run slightly behind schedule as everyone needs to get familiarized with riding the bus.
Q: The bus driver said that parents/guardians are not allowed on the bus. Is that true?
A: Yes, parents are not allowed on the bus. If you need to speak with the bus driver, you may stand outside of the bus door and do so.
Health and Safety
Q: Where can I find information regarding keeping my keiki safe on the school bus?
A: https://www.ksbe.edu/back_to_school/hawaii/health_and_safety/
Miscellaneous
Q: I would like to report a concern or complaint. However, I am unsure if I should report it or who to report it to?
A: We encourage everyone (parents, guardians, students, community, etc.) to please speak-up and voice your concerns/complaints to the Transportation Department as soon as possible. The sooner Transportation is notified, the sooner we can look in to the concern/complaint. It is helpful if you provide details of the event: date, time, names, license plates, description of event, etc. Transportation can review audio/video footage, therefore the date and time are especially helpful to facilitate the investigation. You may send us an e-mail or give us a call.
Q: The bus is at "maximum capacity." Why doesn't the bus appear to be filled with students?
A: The number of students assigned to a bus vs. students who actually ride the bus differs for several reasons: students are out sick, students are driven to/from school, students catch the evening/activities bus instead of the afternoon bus route, students have a space-available bus pass for a different bus route, etc.
Q: Who do I contact if my child lost or forgot an item on the bus?
A: Call or email the Transportation Office. All Lost & Found items are delivered to the Transportation Office and held for 30 days. After 30 days unclaimed items will be taken to a local thrift shop or discarded if rejected by the thrift shop.
Q: What does Financial Aid cover?
A: Financial aid awards cover tuition and transportation (bus fees) and are given on a full or partial basis. All students will pay a $100 Minimum Family Contribution which is NOT covered by financial aid.