Hawaii County Mass Transit plans electric buses, microtransit vans and readies for end of fare-free period

HILO — Hawaii County’s Mass Transit Agency told the County Council on May 20 that the agency will receive four battery-electric buses in June and intends to expand services for rural riders using smaller “microtransit” vans, while it prepares for fares to be reinstated after a temporary fare-free period ends in December.

Acting administrator Zach Burgum presented the agency’s FY26 budget request and a multi-year vehicle procurement plan at the council’s special budget session. Burgum said four Gillig-built battery-electric buses and two chargers are due in June and will be the first step toward a zero-emission fleet. The agency also expects nine paratransit vans and eight “hometown” buses to arrive this year, and plans purchases of hybrid and refurbished buses in the months ahead.

The presentations emphasized investments in maintenance infrastructure tied to new vehicle types, including fall-protection scaffolding for rooftop battery work and training for mechanics on new vehicle models. Burgum said the battery-electric buses come with vendor-provided training packages; he…