WEST KAUAʻI — Two Kauaʻi Bus express routes that have remained out of service since Hurricane Lowell are not expected to resume operations until early 2027, according to the County of Kauaʻi Transportation Agency.
In response to questions from Westside Ledger, county officials confirmed that Routes 900 and 950 Express remain suspended due in part to ongoing staffing and maintenance limitations, particularly involving the county’s battery-electric buses (BEBs).
However, officials clarified that neither the electric buses nor their charging infrastructure sustained damage during Hurricane Lowell.
Instead, the county is using the interruption in service as an opportunity to evaluate the effectiveness of both routes, including ridership demand, scheduling and the potential for improvements.
“There is potential to utilize this pause to assess the effectiveness of the route,” the agency stated.
The express routes were introduced in January 2026 to improve transportation access across Kauaʻi, including service to schools, easier connections to and from Līhuʻe Airport, and shorter wait times for riders traveling between Anahola and Waimea.
Designed primarily for highway travel, the routes were intended to supplement existing Kauaʻi Bus services rather than replace them.
According to the Transportation Agency, the routes have achieved those initial objectives, but nearly a year’s worth of operating data provides an opportunity to reconsider their schedules and efficiency.
Officials also noted that crowding remains an issue at certain times and locations along existing bus routes. The agency hopes to maximize ridership on the express services by using larger battery-electric buses during periods of higher demand.
Between March 1 and Aug. 31, 2026, Routes 900 and 950 recorded a combined 6,515 passenger boardings, representing approximately 2% of total Kauaʻi Bus ridership during that period.
Route 950 recorded 3,487 boardings, while Route 900 accounted for 3,028.
The county also confirmed that its battery-electric buses have not been reassigned to other routes during the suspension.
According to officials, some stops and locations along existing routes cannot accommodate the size and weight of the electric vehicles.
Residents who previously relied on Routes 900 and 950 to reach schools, the airport or other destinations across the island will need to continue using existing Kauaʻi Bus services until the express routes resume.
The Transportation Agency confirmed that all other bus routes remain operational and that riders can still reach stops previously served by the express routes, although travel may require schedule adjustments and additional transfers.
For West Kauaʻi residents traveling longer distances for work, school, medical appointments or other necessities, the continued suspension means the express services will remain unavailable for at least several more months.
The county anticipates restoring both routes in early 2027, although an exact date has not been announced.
Officials said a public announcement will be issued ahead of the routes’ return.
In the meantime, riders can consult the county’s existing bus schedules to plan trips and identify necessary connections.
For current route information and schedules, visit The Kauaʻi Bus website.