Hele on in Orchidland?

[My 2 cents]

http://www.heleonbus.org/sandbox/Route%20402.pdf
It says beginning September 5, 2021.  Last time I drove 40th between Orchidland Dr. and Pohaku (2 mi.) it was unpaved and pretty gnarly.  I heard this morning that "they" were starting to pave it, not confirmed.  I don't know who "they" would be.  OLCA does not have the money to do this without substantial help.
Nothing in the OLCA meeting minutes or newsletters about it, but the last minutes posted on their website are from June. 
I am curious as to how this came about (assuming it's real) without any public input or knowledge, and who is funding it.
Does anyone have any better information on this?

[Carey]

Not new, this was a part of the 2016 state strategic planning for Transit, public meetings started in 2017 to create the HeleOn Master Plan, went to a few...
The start was the expansion of the Keaukaha route to include Hilo Airport in 2017.... the cross Saddle route was added more recently, now the beginning fo the Hub & Spur routes....
http://heleonmasterplan.com/wp-content/u...P-Ch-4.pdf

& here is one of the notices for the meetings:
https://bigislandnow.com/2017/10/25/mass...scheduled/

[Punaperson]

I wouldn't hold my breath - or sit at a bus stop - waiting for this to happen. I've mentioned before that Orchidland was drawn up by somebody sitting in Honolulu that had a ruler and liked straight lines, but had no clue as to the reality of 150" of rain a year. As anyone who lives near that area knows, there are major water issues ( as in raging rapids ) that will take very expensive engineering to overcome.
There are some photos at ' https://orchidland.org/about-us/faq/#item13 '. If you look at the sky, it's not even raining.

[My 2 cents]

I had to see for myself. They are NOT paving that road, at least not today.

The flooding issues Punaperson mentions are very real. The pictures are from 39th and Pohaku, but all of that water crosses 40th before it gets to 39th.

Probably a facebook rumor that made it's way to me through a different grapevine. (I don't do facebook). However, there's no denying that the Hele on website shows Sept. 5, 2021 as the start date for the new service.

Anyway, nevermind.

[macuu222]

The bus also just started going all the way down Makuu to 1st instead of turning on 16th. But I believe it doesn't go directly into Hilo anymore ....you have to transfer in Keaau.

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

Two prisoners tried to take advantage of the newly expanded Hele-On bus schedule when they escaped from HCCC yesterday:

Police learned Makio had just boarded a Hele-On bus and Moreno was in the process of getting on the bus. They were arrested without incident, police said.
Makio was incarcerated for probation violation offenses. Moreno was jailed for robbery, assault and theft-related offenses, and was awaiting trial.

Detectives continue to investigate how the inmates were able to escape and will try to account for their whereabouts while they were missing.  
https://www.yahoo.com/news/hawaii-island...00956.html

[achutch3]

Two prisoners tried to take advantage of the newly expanded Hele-On bus schedule when they escaped from HCCC yesterday:

Police learned Makio had just boarded a Hele-On bus and Moreno was in the process of getting on the bus. They were arrested without incident, police said.
Makio was incarcerated for probation violation offenses. Moreno was jailed for robbery, assault and theft-related offenses, and was awaiting trial.

Detectives continue to investigate how the inmates were able to escape and will try to account for their whereabouts while they were missing.  
https://www.yahoo.com/news/hawaii-island...00956.html

Saw that article and was thinking the same thing. Hilarious. Was wondering what the fare would have been? 2 ramens, a sticky bun, and 5 cigarettes?