Requesting The County Of Hawaii To Expand The Hele-on Shared Ride Program To Serve The Entire Island Of Hawaii, Including Rural And Underserved Areas Such As West Hawaii, North Kohala, South Kohala, Ka, And Puna.
HCR154 is a House Concurrent Resolution requesting the County of Hawaiʻi to expand the Hele-On Shared Ride Program so it serves the entire island, rather than only east Hawaiʻi and the Hilo area. The resolution focuses on improving access for residents in rural and underserved communities, including West Hawaiʻi, North Kohala, South Kohala, Kaʻū, and Puna, where long distances, limited fixed-route bus service, and a lack of on-demand transportation create barriers to daily life.
The measure highlights the importance of accessible transportation for kupuna, people with disabilities, and residents with chronic health conditions, especially for trips to medical appointments, pharmacies, supportive services, and work. It also asks the County Mass Transit Agency to prioritize ADA-compliant, mobility-device-accessible vehicles, work with local transportation providers, and consider phased or pilot expansion strategies that fit within available funding.
Because HCR154 is a concurrent resolution, it does not change state law or create enforceable legal requirements. Instead, it expresses the Legislature’s request that the County of Hawaiʻi and its Mass Transit Agency expand and improve the Hele-On Shared Ride Program, including broader geographic coverage, accessibility accommodations, and possible partnerships with private or local transportation providers. Its practical effect would depend on county action, funding, and implementation decisions rather than a statutory mandate.
The overall sentiment around the resolution appears strongly supportive. The bill’s findings frame the expansion as a transportation equity and public health issue, and the recorded Senate committee votes were unanimous and unamended in both Transportation and Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs. That voting history suggests broad agreement with the goal of improving access to transportation for rural residents and people with mobility or health-related needs.
There is little visible opposition in the available record, but the resolution does acknowledge practical constraints that could be points of contention. The main issues are cost, availability of providers in underserved areas, and whether expansion should occur through phased implementation or pilot programs. The bill also leaves room for debate over how quickly the county can extend service island-wide while maintaining program accountability and staying within available funding.