Our big Samoan bus driver pushed a belligerent racist drunk guy off da Bus That's GANGSTA! read more

Very impressive service for the most part. The Apps help a lot in planning trips. I was even more impressed when I was notified by mail that my Senior Bus Pass was about to expire. Inside the envelope was a form to apply for renewal & explanation of the various options for renewal. I decided to go in person to the office at School Street. I was greeted by a smiling lady who asked how she could help. I'd already filled out the form so I presented it with my current bus pass & credit card to pay. The lady verified the info on the form & said it'd take a few minutes. I was prepared to wait but she handed me the updated pass with my receipt. We enjoyed a laugh at my surprise that it was done so quickly. I was so taken aback that I forgot to note her name but I really appreciated her reception & efficiency. read more

The bus is cheap, clean, friendly, and takes you places. However, it's unreliable service, and the stops are more like...suggestions. One year, we decided to save a little money and skip the rental car. Bus stops were seen everywhere, so we thought it would be a small inconvenience to use public transportation for a week or so, and use the saved money to buy dinner at La Mer But one trip out to the Contemporary Museum and we were praying for Budget to take us back. We waited literally 90 minutes and NO bus. When we gave up on the bus stop, we started walking the route of the bus, hoping it would come rescue us on the way back to Waikiki. NO DICE. We passed Chinatown. NO BUS. At this point, we figured someone at the bus company was purposefully trying to kill us off by walking us to death in the 98 degree weather. But against all odds, in the end, we survived the horrendous trek back to the hotel...husband had a seriously gnarly foot rash from wearing flip flops on our marathon walk. I was sunburned from the neck up from sweating off all of the sunscreen I had so diligently applied before leaving the museum. Don't think I would ever give public transportation less than four stars, though. I'd rather have it than not. However, I'm just glad I know where I stand with The Bus now...it's either "Hang Loose" or "Hoof It Home." read more

I am 28 and i've never owned a car. I've taken just about every route there is to take on this island since I was a little girl. I currently live in Makaha, which is where I grew up, but for a time I lived in Wahiawa, Haleiwa, and town. Places I've needed to travel to are vast--leeward places, town places, schofield, airport, pearl harbor, windward, north shore, waikiki and tons of places in the past 20 years for crap like for job interviews, parties, outings, etc... In my opinion, many people's ratings will differ based on how much they've ridden, how many drivers they've encountered, which routes, etc. Some will claim they've been all over the island, but to me, a handful of times will cause a rating to differ from someone whose gone religiously. I just want to have my rating understood in the proper context, which is why I gave that too-long intro. I'm going to have to admit that I've never caught the bus outside of Hawaii. Therefore, this isn't a comparative rating of bus services. This is more a satisfaction rating of my overall experience. I give the service a 2 for these: 1. The buses could be cleaned more thoroughly, the filth in the window sills could be vacuumed and the windows wiped more often of the dried facial oils and who-knows-what. 2. I've been on broken-down buses far too often to know that there's some kind of a lack of proper maintenance times. 3. Not wanting to marginalize profit further means less often buses. The C and 40 really need to come more often than every hour. Over-packed routes at various hours that nothing is done to alleviate. They need longer buses, but they can't "afford" it. 4. Fucked up timing. A few years ago the routes changed near the time of the election; I wasn't the only one aware of it. After the election, some of the routes changed back; however, much of the timing is fucked up. By fucked up I mean that they no longer line up well with connecting buses. A destination that used to take an hour and a half to get to, now takes two and a half hours. No matter what hour, you'll always miss your transfer bus, which happened to get there just before yours. So? You're stuck for half an hour to an hour. I used to be able to get off one and get on another; now I'm stuck at various transits for too damn long. (also to do with budget) 5. Self-righteous, overly uptight, lacking-tact drivers. They aren't the majority, but the few spoil it for the rest. These are the ones that mindlessly enforce the "bus rules" with a stick up their ass, more often than not defeating the very purpose of those rules which are meant for safety and keeping riders satisfied. I've never had it happen to me, but witnessing these is enough: There is a woman who always yells about music and stops the bus just to walk back and tell them to turn it down. This delays the route and is a potential safety hazard depending on where she pulled over. Not only does it make that person she scolded embarrassed, it makes the rest of the passengers uncomfortable and intimidated. Someone suggested perhaps the music is distracting to the driver; however, I think the driver is making it MORE of a distraction by trying to be authoritarian and chastising. She can ask NICELY on the intercom or ignore the music and it'd be far safer than getting her panties in a bunch. In addition, never has she mentioned it was for safety. She always quotes the bus rules "you can't have your music too loud, that's the law" or something like that. Another older woman does the same thing and yells about the music, only she says "you're in violation of city ordinance. don't make me stop the bus." Then there was that one guy that kicked a woman off for taking a sip of her drink, not at a bus stop either. And then there was that man who denied an elderly woman her ride home at 9:30 at night because she had a small bag of cans. They could have fit on her lap or VERY WELL under the seat. There was no doubt about it. He let her on at first but then asked if they were cans and subsequently rudely told her to get off. There's no rule about bags of cans. And large bags need to be able to fit on lap or under seat. He had no good reason. He decided to pull some self-righteous authoritarian crap and made this lady wait another hour for the next bus home in the middle of the night in the middle of town. So much for the safety of our citizens. I believe, if you are to travel via the bus occasionally, you will hardly ever have issues. Like someone else said, good if you're a tourist, not good for everyday use. That person's right. You'll encounter nice drivers most of the time, in town some routes have nicer, newer buses and more often than not, they are on time. It's just that the more you travel, the more you experience, the more you become aware of and therefore, the more your satisfaction will be impacted. Mine has been impacted a lot mainly due to #5. I strongly feel drivers can always have tact and should stop being authoritarian read more

OMG. A BUS DRIVER WAS REALLY RUDE to passengers and I about 30 minutes ago. 8/13/2019 approximately 1:45PM. Bus 4 University - Bus stop #294 University Ave. & Date St. Taking his break he says, "10 MINUTES! GONNA BE 10 MINUTES!" ....pause we are all silent..."YOU GUYS UNDERSTAND OR NOT??!!" (treating us like we don't speak English). He then says, "SEE NOW YOU GUYS HAVE TO WAIT 10 MINUTES!! YOU SHOULD HAVE TAKEN THE A, NOW YOU GOTTA WAIT 10 MINUTES!! " Really rude. I go outside to get fresh air. I see him leaned up against a wall, unlit cigarette hanging from his lips staring at his phone. I don't judge. It's just another description of his composure. 10 minutes pass. I see him get on the bus. I enter. He rudely gestures "C'MON!" To show my bus pass. I say "Oh again. Okay." While I'm taking out my pass HE RUDELY POINTS HIS INDEX FINGER RIGHT IN MY FACE PUSHING IT RUDELY BACK AND FORTH UP AND DOWN while saying "WHENEVER YOU GET ON THE BUS YOU SHOW YOUR BUS PASS!! OR YOU PAY!!! YOU ALWAYS DO THAT!!" So rude again. He did not need to yell and point his fingers right in my face while I"m trying to do as he asked. His description is dark brown bald chubby cheeks super chubby guy. I'm not judging his looks. It's just a description so The Bus can possibly determine who he is. There are honorable chubby people who are very polite with a Big Heart, that can compose themselves under stress. His attitude and composure was very unprofessional. And we weren't under stressful conditions during Pau Hana traffic like on the A or E. There was hardly any traffic. He was very rude and unprofessional. I hope the Bus can determine who this driver is so that they can help him to treat riders with respect. read more

There are a load of creepy people on the bus, and as hard as you try to avoid them, sometimes they just won't leave you alone. When this happens, I usually walk up to the bus driver and notify him/her that that person is bothering me. Yes, I may seem like a mean person here, but if I am with my daughter and someone comes and starts hitting on me, making lewd remarks, I do not appreciate that at all. There can be some pretty bad B.O. permeating the bus, but if you hate driving as much as I do, you'll learn to deal with it. I feel it's always better to leave earlier to give some time to get to wherever you're going. The bus isn't always on time. To leave earlier betters your chances of getting there earlier or on time..or at worst, not so late as if you were to leave at a normal time. http://www.hea.thebus.org - That's where you can punch in the bus stop number (the number is usually shown in a vertical way with a yellow reflective background under the bus stop sign) and see the estimated time arrivals for your stop. I am almost never in a rush to go anywhere. I hate driving. I'm bad with street names so I usually get lost. WIth the bus I don't have to worry about that. I just have to look out the window and see if I'm near my destination. The stop I get onto the bus at is one of the first stops for this route so I'm almost always guaranteed a seat :) They messed with the routes, the E used to go to Waikiki but not anymore :( That is a great bummer. Anyway, it's $2.50 per ride and you can request for a transfer which allows you one free ride (usually expires after 4 hours but some drivers are nice and will extend the time) or you can purchase a bus pass for $60 that allows you to ride the bus unlimitedly (except for shuttles. I don't think they count towards those?) You can go online and plan your trips on http://www.thebus.org/ Wheeee~ read more

I have to say that TheBus system here in Oahu is amazing! Plenty of buses and plenty of places to go. You really don't need a car, especially when parking can be super expensive or hard to find! And the nice and free air conditioning is just lovely on a super hot day! Most of the driver's are really helpful, and some are disgruntle. Don't take offense, because they probably have to deal with a lot of nonsense from passengers. But again, most of them are really friendly and helpful! I took this bus for granted until I lived on another island for a bit. TheBus in Oahu is dependable and really love the app that goes with it for your phone. Google is pretty synced with TheBus too, but don't rely on both google and the phone app too much. Because I've been told I was in the ocean a few times through the app. HAHAHA! Just be warned that the bus is PACKED during pauhana time (end of the work day) and in the mornings. But when you can get in an empty bus, it's pure heaven! Especially, on the newer buses. And if the back doors are not opening, then just yell out "BACK DOOR" and the driver will open it for you. Don't be afraid to yell it out for yourself or for others! Travelers: DO NOT BRING SUITCASES ON THE BUS! One small one is okay and one big one if the bus is empty and you are not in anyone's way. And DO NOT take up TWO seats, unless you REALLY need them. It's just rude to take so much space when there are loads of people who would like to sit down, especially the elderly or children. Once the bus was packed but this person decided to put her feet on one seat and took up two seats. One, that is gross...feet should NOT be on seats! And two, that is just rude. Like any other bus system you will have some homeless, some people with odor, some people who talk crazy, and others who are just not in the mood. Just stay clear from them and you will be find. If not, then don't be afraid to report it anyone bothering you. Usually, other bus riders are there to help you out. So no worries. Overall TheBus is great for those who want to travel around the island without having to deal with a car, gas, parking, maintenance, and all that other jazz that comes with having a car. It takes a little time and a little wait sometimes, but better than walking! For those with disabilities or elderly....don't forget to get your discounted yearly bus pass of $30 for the year. Or a $1 per ride for the elderly! :) Just go to the office at the terminal. Warning: On the first of the month the lines are HUGE!!!! Just get them at the ABC Stores if you want to quickly get them or any other places that offer them. And don't forget that each transfer has two rides on them within a 2 hour span! So, you can save money that way too!!! Happy traveling! read more

Five stars for great coverage of the island, two stars for frequency of buses and staying on schedule. We wanted to snorkel at Hanauma Bay and I was stressing on how we'd get there from our hotel on Waikiki beach. Taxis are too expensive, tour shuttles run on their schedules and limit the time you are at the bay. Then I noticed a bus stop a block from our hotel for TheBus and one of the routes listed went to Hanauma Bay, no transferring to another bus line needed. The next morning we got all our gear together and walked to the bus stop. We waited and waited. Buses are scheduled about 30 minutes apart. I asked some other people how long they had been waiting, they'd been at the stop over a half hour. About 5 minutes later the 22 appeared. It was pretty full but we found seats, though not together. The bus stops are clearly announced and displayed. Luckily we were sitting near a regular so when the first "Hanauma Bay" stop was announced most got up to get off but my new friend told me to wait until the next stop which was within the park itself. The bus returning to Waikiki was also very late but it got us back. Overall, not bad for $5 round trip to do some great snorkeling. read more

Way back when, I had a three month stay in Oahu and being a student, my lack of finances left me without a vehicle. Prior to my stay, I always had aversions to public transportation. But The Bus changed all of that permanently and it was utilized my entire stay for my daily commute from Waikiki to Pearl City. Once you do your homework on the website (www.thebus.org) and have all your who, what, where, when, how, and why questions answered, you'll see that the The Bus is quite reliable and you can get yourself to any part of the island with just one or two rides. About nine years ago the system was still one of the best in he country, but in the Stone Age. Google Maps and The Bus-HEA improved the system even more allowing you to access multiple routes to your destination, bus stop locations, bus numbers, and real time locations of the nearest bus. If you don't have access to Google Maps, then you're in the Stone Age and shouldn't have a gripe about not knowing where a late bus is or not being able to find an alternate route. A $35 four day pass, available at ABC Stores (cash only), is of value if you're making more than 3 rides per day. If you don't have a pass, make sure you have the exact change for your $2.50 one way fare and don't forget the transfer ticket if it's not your final destination. In my hundreds of rides, I've never had a driver that was not helpful, nor have I had one incident with any person at any of the stops or in any of the buses. On two separate occasions on this most recent trip, the drivers asked me where I was going once I boarded to help us get where we needed. Some of the buses are older and you might have to stand during rush hour, but I find the seats comfortable enough to take a snooze on long rides. Most recently, we utilized the bus to take trips from Waikiki west to Pearl Harbor and as far east to Hanauma Bay. We had no problems locating stops and buses. The Bus is volumes cheaper than renting a car and paying over night parking fees and still cheaper than Uber if you're going to have multiple rides. It's definitely an option to keep open for transportation needs on your next visit to the island. read more

I waited an hour for a bus to Pearl Harbour. I pulled $5.50 out of my ziplock bag and the guy tells me it's $2.25. I think I know the difference between having 9 quarters and 22 Quarters read more

Absolutely terrible service. I'm baffled by the fact that they dare to call themselves a public transportation company after the terrible service they provide. Prices and comfort aside, the busses regularly show up extremely late (if they ever show up at all). I have also had busses drive straight past the stop I was waiting at leaving me stranded for up to an hour or more at times. Just earlier today I was attempting to take the 415 from Kalaeloa to the Kapolei Transit Center. It's the only bus that runs near my house so I unfortunately have no choice but to take it. The last bus to the transit center shows up at 6pm which is insanely early. It has been this way for quite some time now. Not only did the bus arrive 30 minutes late, but when it did arrive the bus driver refused to take me saying that he wasn't going back to the transit center since his shift was over. When I asked about the bus scheduled for 6pm (the last bus to the transit center) he stated that that was his bus and he was running late. Not only did the driver admit to knowing that he was extremely late, but he also refused to do his job on top of that. This is not the first time this has happened either. This has been a regular occurrence at several stops with several drivers. This last incident on Tuesday, May 3rd was just the most recent one. I sincerely hope that another transit company shows up on the island soon. We desperately need a company that actually cares about its riders since this one clearly doesn't. Worst public transport experience I've ever had. read more

Pros: -It's called "The Bus" (how you gonna argue with that?) -The seats are comfy -Carpet on the ground -A/C -Cheaper prices during off-season months -Goes all around the island -Made not having a rental car "totes doable" (which is how I describe myself these days) Cons: -Although there is a schedule, we were warned The Bus(es) don't adhere to it....... fact -Stops are really frequent in downtown Waikiki area -Some busses stop at random elementary schools in the middle of nowhere (yeah, I'm talking about you 22) read more

I love THEBUS! I used the bus when I was in high school to get to work in Pearlridge from Ewa Beach. After that, I had a car and never had to use the bus ever again. I work in town now and live in Waipahu. After 3 years of stress, high blood pressure, and TRAFFIC. I had it. I decided to TRY using the bus again. I did it before, how hard can it be? Well, if I would've KNOWN before how easy it was, I would've done this years ago! The bus' website offers helpful information on how to get here and there. Route maps and schedules are easily available. In fact, I found an app for my itouch that costed very little that allowed me to download ALL the routes and schedules so they were at my fingertips offline. Now, I can get ANYWHERE at ANYTIME with this tool. What really made me get up and try the bus was their driving cost calculator on their website. When I saw how much money I WOULD'VE saved annually by using the bus vs driving I almost fell out of my chair! I drive a Astro Van so obviously, if you drive a hybrid or hot wheel car you're savings will be much lower considering your mpg's. Well, mine was a whopping $1700+!!! SAY WHAT?! That's when I made up my mind and give it a shot. Well, from Village Park there is an express bus that leaves the same time I used to leave to go to work. It picks up in VP and Royal Kunia and heads straight for the zipper lane. I got to town in the same amount of time it used to take me when I drove! I make one transfer in town and I get dropped off right across the street from work. TADA! And because I ride the express bus, there really aren't too many weirdo's, stinky's or perverts ( i think) on the bus. Most of them are business people or hotel workers. In the afternoons, I have to walk a few blocks to get to the transit center to catch the express bus back but this forces me to get exercise. So, it's a win win. I love the bus and will not go back to driving as long as I can. (I'm expecting). I come home stress-less with a normal blood pressure. By walking through town and my neighborhood, it allows me to stop and smell the roses or gardenias every day. I love it! If you're like me and sick and tired of traffic, give the bus a try. I did, and I love that every weekend when I jump into my van the gas tank is STILL FULL! One more thing, go to google.com and search for google transit. There's a site there where you can enter your origin and destination, date and time and POOF! It tells you exactly how to get there. It's an awesome tool. read more

Hey, TheBus. Y U NO STOP FO ME??? I'm not that horrible. I treat you well. I say "Thank you" and "Good Day." I don't stink you up like 99% of your passengers (or at least, I don't think I do). I don't eat food and spill crumbs or smear sauce over your already-smeared seats. I'm not the one who left weed in the notoriously seedy back seats. I get up for cranky old people who want my seat. And I don't start hitting, spitting, cussing, singing, whistling, twitching or laughing at people, unless there's a really good reason. So again. Y U NO STOP FO ME WHEN I"M RIGHT BEHIND YOU? Don't make eye contact, start laughing and then drive away as I dash after you! It's not cool. :( read more

Honestly, I have never ridden a better bus system in all of my life! My first encounter with "TheBus" was actually me observing one of the buses which had apparently stopped and was waiting for a heavy set man sprinting towards it at his top speed from down the street -- I would say the bus waited more than a few minutes, which is amazing to me, especially for any public mode of transportation. All the bus drivers I had encountered were friendly, approachable, and adorned in bright Hawaiian shirts. There are quite a few tourists that ride and I remember one bus driver told me that although the bus went to a particular tourist destination, it would be closed by the time it would arrive so it would probably not be a good idea to ride there. (Which saved me invaluable time during my short stay in Oahu!) I have observed bus drivers helping out other tourists on numerous occasion. TheBus tickets are cheap -- $2/person the last time I rode, which includes a transfer pass good for one whole day -- basically a round-trip ride. If you plan on traveling throughout Oahu for more than 4 days, you might consider investing in their 4-day or 7-day bus pass which allows for unlimited rides! What a lovely change of pace from the public transportation of Houston! Tips: Make sure you get a bus schedule (they are all over the island, including the McDonald's in Waikiki) or call the bus hot-line/visit their website to make sure the bus runs to and from where you are going. Lots of routes run only at certain times of the day and not at all on others. (i.e. Bus 22 to Hanauma Bay doesn't run on Tuesdays) read more

Having a disability is challenging enough without having to explain the ADA law regarding service dogs to drivers who claim ignorance on the subject. As a public transit company, The Bus should be proactive in the training and education of its drivers, who are the face of the company. Having employed a service dog since 2006, I have found riding the bus very discerning. I either have to deal with bus drivers who don't know the rights of service dogs and their handlers under the ADA. To that, it is a shame that they don't even know their rights and acceptable behavior for service dogs. If these issues are addressed properly and fully, I would expect that situations like I, unfortunately, had to endure, to come to an end. Making riding the bus for persons with legitimate service dogs and the operators, more enjoyable. read more

Darn you bus! I really shouldn't be giving the bus such a low rating since it is my primary form of transportation, but really bus REALLY! I've been riding the bus since I was a toddler, and since child fare was 75 cents, and I must say that the bus has only gone downhill since I started riding. Major route changes started on the first day of school this semester. Bus, it already sucks that we have to go back to school, why must you screw us up even more! Route 2 does not go to Kapiolani park anymore, and route 13 does not go down Monsarrat, leaving my poor old grandpa having to walk 20 minutes home from the bus stop now :( I have some advice for you bus... seniors only pay $30 a year to ride the bus. Instead of changing all the main bus routes, why don't you jack up the prices for seniors? I know numerous seniors who would be happy to pay a little more if some of the routes went back to normal. I could also rant about how much I hate some of the grumpy old people on my routes, but I'd rather keep that to myself. I have more advice for you bus... please hire better people for your customer service line. I called to ask about when the hea.thebus.org website will be back to normal on my mobile phone and all I got was "Oh I dunno what they're doing. They're probably fixing the site." Darn you bus! read more

My mum and I used TheBus to get around Waikiki the last two days we were in Oahu and it was great! I looked up the fare prices online and found out it would be $2.50/adult and $1/senior for one-way. Interestingly for seniors they'll only accept TheBus senior card or a Medicare card, not a driver's license or other ID. No matter what fare you pay, if you pay in cash you will get a transfer ticket good for 2 hours (will expire at the time shown at the top of the ticket). There are a good number of bus stops throughout Waikiki so (apart from one occasion) we never had to walk more than 0.3 miles at a time. Google Maps is completely in sync with TheBus so if you just look up public transportation directions to where you want to go, it'll give you options depending on time/which bus line you end up taking. Buses would come by pretty often so we never had to wait long. And the buses were always nice and clean and, more importantly, well air conditioned! And most of the buses are updated with the scrolling ticket so you know what bus stops are upcoming and what landmarks are there. There was only one bus that we took that we had to rely on the intercom instead of the ticker. Either way, we were always informed of the upcoming bus stop so we knew when to yank the chain thing, and then the bus would announce "stop requested." So convenient! read more

I rode TheBus about a dozen times during my trip to Honolulu, and for the most part, I found the system convenient, especially around the Waikiki area. That said, there were two different instances where I found the bus driver to be very rude. They would constantly be yelling at people and making a fuss at every little thing. In my case, I had a backpack next to my seat in a not-full bus, but the driver didn't find that acceptable, and yelled at me, while another passenger across from my had his backpack to the side, and continued to keep it to his side. Then the bus driver came back to me to tell me my other bag I had in front of me, was too far out, so I had to put the bag between my legs, making it a really uncomfortable bus ride. Another bus ride, the drivers just yelling at every passenger, and then on the back speakers giving warnings. The rest of the bus drivers I experienced were fine, one was very friendly, but this municipal bus system should do a better job with improving the attitude of rude bus drivers. read more

The Bus is the best! There is a number you can call and a real live person will tell you how to get where you're going using The Bus. Where else can you get this kind of customized customer service? It's clean. It gets you around for $2.50. The bus drivers are nice and will tell you exactly when to get off and transfer. That said, let's set our expectations, this is public transit after all. It may be late. There may be gross / stinky people on board. It may take forever to get from point A to point B but you will get there and it will be on the cheap! Try it, you'll like it! :) read more

Oh, what amazing people watching. I could sit on the bus for hours... if only the strange old man sitting in front of me would stop taking photos of me "secretly"... Not so secret if he's pointing the camera directly at me while using the flash to take pictures... Anyhow, you can buy a 4-day pass at any ABC store for $25.00, which is a great deal if you plan on going all over the place. Each trip is $2.50, so you do the math. It seems every local has a bus pass, so it's definitely a popular method of transportation. Just don't do what I did and make sure to get on the bus going in the right direction :) read more

I have not been using the Bus much these days. When I moved to Hawaii, I relied on the bus to get to work. On weekends, I enjoyed Circle Island with the Bus. Spend time at Northshore. No need to worry about car break ins. When you are in a hurry, this might not work for you. PS. If their Bus Path is cheaper, I would buy it and use it sometimes. YELP 365 - 336/365 read more

My favorite ride when I am in Honolulu. Don't need to rent a car and hassle with the parking and traffic. Rides are inexpensive with the transfer. The website www.thebus.org. gave me all the information necessary to take the bus - it even got me back to my old neighborhood from the airport. I wished I had taken the bus more when I was growing-up. I could have saved a lot from not driving and paying for parking. Drivers were nice to me and offered helpful advice about riding. The buses have automatic location announcement of locations of interest. This was helpful because I did not remember all the locations. Overall, a great way to get around on Oahu. Saved a lot on transportation. read more

If it's on time, it's full. If it's not on on time, it's still full. This company is completely broke and doesn't know how to handle the busy routes. What's worse is when they are full but they're the small busses. We still have those things? The busses are mostly old 1990 busses that aren't in the best shape. Cleanliness depends where you take bus, lots of vandalism and graffiti in them with no action done to solve it. Sometimes there's crazy, homeless people on it. Don't mind them, that's just the company's way of saying; "We don't care about our passengers." This company needs some work to do, it's really unreliable. In a rush? IT WON'T WORK OUT TOO WELL FOR YOU. TheBus? I'd rather get a tricycle from the Philippines to do my job. read more

Wow. All I have to say is TheBus has really improved by leaps and bounds since I rode it as a kid. The air conditioning is ice cold, a clearly enunciated recording announces each stop to riders and every bus accommodates the physically challenged (handicapped) commuters. One thing I noticed is that every bus now has a bike rack above the front bumper. This is so helpful for those of us who don't have time to walk from the Bus Stop to work, home or an appointment and need to rely on a bicycle once getting off the bus. My only gripes are that many buses only have two slots, and others have cheap yellow plastic hooks that make it very difficult to lock your bike in place. As the saying goes, "if it 'aint broke, don't fix it." A bus driver told me the yellow hooks were actually the newest ones. *sigh* The best part of riding TheBus is the city now has a website (http://www.thebus.org) that lists every route on the island! This is so much more convenient then carrying around an armful of brochures that will be outdated in a year. The city regularly updates the site with the latest changes and even has a Global Positioning System (GPS) site (http://hea.thebus.org) which gives you the exact time a bus will arrive at the stop you are waiting at, based on its GPS coordinates. This means you can literally budget your time to arrive at the stop a few minutes before arrival. Of course, this means you need a smart phone to access all this information, but in this day and age, most people do. Lastly, the routes. This is a work in progress. While there has been some improvement, I have to say that as a whole, more tweaking is needed. The #1 eastbound buses come once an hour during the height of rush hour. This is woefully inadequate! I would say on average one to two dozen people miss their bus on a daily basis -- simply because the bus was too full to accommodate them. That is only on the #1 route, so it makes me wonder about the situation island-wide. As public transportation, though, I would say this system is a model for other cities to follow. It's easy, convenient and affordable ($2.50 one-way fare or $60 monthly pass) and most drivers genuinely care about the riders on board. However, because there are still a substantial amount of motorists out there, the city is continuing to pursue a multi-modal approach that includes rail transit. They also intend to usurp funds originally earmarked for TheBus and divert it to rail. Hopefully, this does not have an adverse effect on service in the future. read more

Bus C #866 around 5pm 6/18/19. My mom doesn't speak English so I'm translating for her. The bus driver was very good. If all drivers can be like her with such a kind and caring heart, that'll be good. She says most drivers find it annoying to do anything extra. She mentions, the driver helped the elderly when they needed help. read more

I don't feel bad writing this update review. I've been holding back for too long. I feel the bus system has sorely gone downhill. I've recently started to bike to and from work. It sure beats out waiting for the bus to come and take about 30 minutes to get home, which is only about 2.3 miles. By bike I can do it within 12-18 minutes depending on traffic. Or I could even walk it and beat the bus home! It seems that the bus drivers don't care anymore. Ambassadors of "Aloha" has become more like Ambassadors of "Antagonistic". I always greet the bus drivers as I board the bus, most of them give me a look of irritation, while others muster up a painful groan to respond to me. It's really awkward to get grunted at from a caveman. Hello, we are in the 21st century. Thank you. The customer service is worse when the drivers are late, they speed, and also by pass bus stops. When you run to catch up to them, they have a bad attitude like it's your fault they're running late. I'm probably one of the few riders who know that Oahu's traffic has escalated over the years and it is horrible, especially with all the road work going on, and unforeseen accidents. I've even seen 5 buses, all Route 2's on School Street like a bus parade, I know they're behind schedule. Of course not all of them were in service. But I'm not complaining to them, like how some riders do. I understand and practice patience and breathing. So, since I have all these complaints, why don't I call customer service to report it? I have done it before. No improvements. I don't believe whoever is in charge, and has the power to make the change, is changing anything. Probably sitting pretty with all the money they're making. Also, I just don't care anymore. It is not my problem. I only take the bus if the weather is rainy, or I don't want to lock up my bike because I am paranoid about it getting stolen. I'm not taking any chances on that, because taking the bus daily is really bad. I mean there are good days, but the bad days outweigh the bad. So I am sticking to biking, or carpooling, taking the bus is the last resort for me. I'm not a fan of the bus anymore. read more

Very handy and inexpensive if you're a senior. Senior fare is $1, including transfer. Bus stop locations could be more convenient. But getting around Honolulu is easy and convenient. read more

I've ridden the bus about two years at least 5x a week. Public transportation will always have its drawbacks as well as good sides. Here are some thoughts: 1. Most seats aren't too bad, but smell the area before you sit down to be safe. 2. Hand sanitizer is cheap and will make you feel more comfortable touching the handlebars. 3. Some buses are cleaner than others, this is just trial and error. 4. Sometimes the bus doesn't show up. Or it passes you as "Not in Service." Nothing to be done about it. 5. Some bus drivers are the nicest people ever. They'll even remember you on your weekly Saturday 5:30 am bus ride to work. 6. The route 4 need some serious re-construction as it stops for 10 minutes .8 miles from the University. This break can be taken at a location further away from campus so students don't mistakenly take it and find themselves much later than they thought. 7. The route A is pretty reliable and I am very thankful for this route. read more

This past month I went back to riding The Bus to work. The State of Hawaii has one of the best bus systems in the country, in my opinion, and is very easy and convenient to use. I really like DaBus app too; it gives me a pretty good idea of when I need to get ready to catch the bus. I've learned how to take advantage of this convenience by trial and error...which usually ends up meaning I walk more, but I see that as a bonus...and a learning opportunity. I recently talked to a co-worker who has lived her entire life in Hawaii...and has never taken the bus. She said it intimidates her. I've never felt unsafe on the bus. Give it a try, get out of your comfort zone...you might just find yourself being a convert. read more

Oh, TheBus... what a volatile love/hate relationship we have! Mostly, I love you... I know you and your routes oh so well. From which stop to use anywhere around AlaMo... to new ways to maneuver around the Punchbowl/King blocks... there are surprises and turns every day with you! I love your friendly drivers... some have become what I hope to be lifelong friends, even... and then there are the grouches. they may not be named Oscar, but they are likely his cousins! And, like Oscar, they may be grouchy, but they still have a heart and will warm up eventually! I am saddened by this summer's new schedules... I am looking forward to seeing them updated in December. My Sunday rides home deep inside Moanalua Valley often take me a couple hours with transfers in less-than-convenient locations, and THEN I still have a mile and a half walk to the house from the bus stop on evenings, weekends, and holidays. Thank goodness I need the exercise... but I hate to tack on an hour of rides/transfers, just because I decided to go to Dole Cannery on a Sunday ... especially when there are no bathrooms available along the walk home. I have been a long-time (well, considering I've been riding with you since 2008) advocate of your services, helping to convince more individuals to leave their cars at home, and enjoy the express routes. I wish you were able to do more to make my experience more amenable. Thanks for the surveys, I hope that my participation in that project helps keep things going. Cant wait to see how things (may) improve in the New Year! Alohaz. Yours... Gayle. 21/31 Yelps Challenge. and yes, it has been a challenge. :) read more

This public transportation system is by far the worst I've ever used! They will take take you from one end of the island to the next, but then you'll find yourself stranded b/c they'll straight up refuse to let you back on the bus without any explanation as to why. Seriously, rent a car or hail an Uber instead. The buses are ALWAYS late. I've been here for 4 months and have never, not once caught a bus on schedule. What's worse, the buses never connect on time either. I'm always finding myself standing at a transfer point for an hour or more. The drivers are extremely rude and unpleasant too. There is no consistency amongst the organization either. They enforce the rules with some people, but not others. And it'll take you 2 hours just to travel 20 miles. I broke down and bought myself a car so I wouldn't have to stress over these incompetent douches anymore. read more

I've been riding on TheBus since I was 5, so I'm extremely familiar with it's operations. I've traveled all over the island, from Waianae to Waikiki to North Shore. The number one tip I'd give anyone is to download 'DaBus' app (available on iPhone & Android). Most buses have GPS on it so you can track where it is while you're waiting. Don't push it though, give yourself at least an extra 5-10 minutes. If you're unfamiliar with an area, DO YOUR RESEARCH and plan accordingly. Another tip, use Google Maps to figure out what buses to catch (type in your starting location and your destination). It'll give you a list of options and times. I ALWAYS confirm with bus routes from thebus.org or 'DaBus' app because there might be some changes that Google Maps aren't aware of, such as schedule/route changes. BE PATIENT! You're riding public transportation, it's not the fastest way to travel, but it definitely beats walking. The seats are relatively comfortable, especially on the newer buses. You might have to stand on a crowded bus. Sometimes I try to check if another bus is coming behind it. Some bus routes may be running late and another bus is just around the corner (again, use the app). It's all about judgement, wait for another bus or stand, it's up to you. The bus is relatively clean. The only problem with cleanliness I usually have are bugs. I've seen roaches, ants, spiders, and bugs I don't even know what it was! You might even notice those roach traps scattered under seats. It's not a big problem, but just be weary. One star deduction for that. Adult Fare: $2.50 with 2-hour transfer* Youth Fare (17 and younger): $1.25 with 2-hour transfer* Monthly Adult: $60 Monthly Youth: $30 4-Day Pass: $35 *Bus Drivers usually give you longer than 2 hours, but always check that they give you at least 2 hours. Once, a bus driver gave me a transfer expiring in 30 minutes. read more

Just like the New York subway system, it also has express buses. I only wish the bay area would have fabulous transporation system as good as these two. There is a sign above the bus driver spelling out the upcoming stops perfectly, so I don't have to pester the drivers and neighbors 'am i there yet? am i there yet?" I think by the time the bay area perfects the system is the day I won't have the luxury to utilize it. read more

TheBus is about as good as any bus system anywhere. I worked for a transit system on the mainland and could ride the bus there for free. But I rode the bus here more times in six months after moving here than I did in the 23 years that I worked there. Many people do not appreciate what a challenge it is to maintain a clean, reliable bus fleet with professional, well trained operators with the budgets most transit systems are constrained by. The CC of Honolulu and the Oahu Transit System should be commended for the excellent service they provide. read more

I had the nicest Bus Driver on the #20! He was so friendly to everyone getting on the bus, and they would smile at him. He was also very courteous to other drivers on the road, as well as people waiting at the bus stop. There were 3 tourists standing in the wrong spot, and he saw them and waved them over! How nice is that??? It was a great ride! read more

#8 to Ala Moana Shopping Center was fairly efficient, although the driver was not very helpful when asked about the $2 transfers (they expire in roughly 2 hours). Return trip from the mall gets standing-room-only crowded. Stops are announced. read more

Quite honestly the best public bus system I've ever been on. All the busses I had the pleasure of riding were clean and drivers were more than happy to help my tourist ass figure out my stop. And for the first time ever, I was walking toward a stop and not quite there yet and the driver was friendly enough to wait for me. That shouldn't be such a surprise! read more

Horrible service. I'm a tourist on this island and asked the bus driver a simple question. He then yelled at me rudely as if I was already suppose to know... I'm not from hawaii and I just needed help. Aloha is gone read more

First time taking TheBus... Was not impressed. Yes, its a great way to get around and I will use it again, mainly because its the cheapest option, but my initial experience was a bad one. I understand that there is a schedule. But to the driver who saw me struggling to keep together my diaper bag, farmers market bag, umbrella stroller and a wiggly 10 month old baby, could you at least smile at me or something? Here I am, doing my best to hurry, smiling and apologizing for the maybe 30 second wait and I get stone faced sunglasses staring at me. Not cool and not necessary. I was doing my best. read more