01-23-2008, 07:23 AM
The HeleOn buses were initially brought to the island & run by the Waikaloa Resorts, running from Hilo to Waikaloa in order to get workers.
The county took over the privately run system to increase island-wide availability. And they are. Just VERY caustiously. But that said, they have been adding more routes & times to the routes, they have gone from a pay to a free system, and lower Pahoa has one of the best services (for times throughout the day & number of buses) in the system, if you are near a main road.
The Kona Airport stop an example of how the county is, gradually, responding to the needs... there was no airport stop (Kona or Hilo) a year ago, the Kona airport stop was just added this month...with time, luck & interest Hilo airport may get bus service....
The county took over the privately run system to increase island-wide availability. And they are. Just VERY caustiously. But that said, they have been adding more routes & times to the routes, they have gone from a pay to a free system, and lower Pahoa has one of the best services (for times throughout the day & number of buses) in the system, if you are near a main road.
The Kona Airport stop an example of how the county is, gradually, responding to the needs... there was no airport stop (Kona or Hilo) a year ago, the Kona airport stop was just added this month...with time, luck & interest Hilo airport may get bus service....