'Aina Haina residents offered 3 bus options
By Mary Vorsino
Advertiser Urban Honolulu Writer
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A little more than a month after the city cut off 'Aina Haina from a main bus route, the city is offering residents three options for restoring bus service through the community following public outcry over the changes.
Some of the options would come at a price, though — as much as $500,000 a year, according to transportation officials.
Though the options are being taken to neighborhood associations and boards this month and next, city officials do not expect a permanent fix to be in place until June because of the way bus drivers sign up for routes in advance.
But interim bus changes are appeasing some concerns, including a plan to send a new circulator route from 'Aina Haina to Hawai'i Kai so bus users — many of whom are elderly, disabled or children — aren't forced to cross Kalaniana'ole Highway. The route starts Tuesday.
The options for permanent route changes are:
The plan would cost an additional $380,000 annually, city transportation officials told 'Aina Haina residents this week.
No additional money would be needed for the plan.
An additional $500,000 annually would be needed for the plan.
Art Mori, 'Aina Haina Community Association past president, said residents overwhelmingly supported restoration of the No. 1 route through the Hind Drive loop at a meeting Wednesday night. Among attendees at the gathering, 35 supported bringing the old main bus route back.
Mori said 13 people supported bringing two new routes through 'Aina Haina, while eight favored the proposal that required no additional money.
"We really feel that the extra cost of putting the (Route 1) buses through our valley would be more than compensated by things we've been pushing for, including safety," Mori said.
Wayne Yoshioka, city Department of Transportation Services director, said the 'Aina Haina meeting is the first of several with neighborhoods to get feedback on the route options.
City officials will meet with Hawai'i Kai Neighborhood Board members next week and are set to make a presentation at the Kuli'ou'ou/Kalani Valley Neighborhood Board on Feb. 7.
The route changes that upset 'Aina Haina residents went into effect Dec. 2. City transit officials said No. 1 buses, which run from Hawai'i Kai to Kalihi, were no longer sent through 'Aina Haina in order to provide faster service along the corridor.
The community is now served by a circulator bus, Route 233, which loops between Kahala Mall and 'Aina Haina. But bus users who are Hawai'i Kai-bound must cross the six-lane highway to catch the bus, spurring fears over safety.
The new circulator route that starts Tuesday will travel through 'Aina Haina on its way from Kahala and Hawai'i Kai.
'Aina Haina residents got the interim fix — and a city promise of more changes — after coming out in force to complain about the potential safety problems and inconvenience of the new bus schedule.
Greg Knudsen, chairman of the Hawai'i Kai Neighborhood Board, said some residents in his community are also concerned about some of the Dec. 2 changes.
He said the new schedule scaled back service to Kalama Valley and Hanauma Bay, leaving some bus users unhappy.
As for service through 'Aina Haina, he said the inconvenience of the No. 1 looping through the community is worthwhile if it means bus users will be safer.
Reach Mary Vorsino at mvorsino@honoluluadvertiser.com.
