REQUESTING THE COUNTY OF HAWAIʻI TO EXPAND THE HELE-ON SHARED RIDE PROGRAM TO SERVE THE ENTIRE ISLAND OF HAWAIʻI, INCLUDING RURAL AND UNDERSERVED AREAS SUCH AS WEST HAWAIʻI, NORTH KOHALA, SOUTH KOHALA, KAʻŪ, AND PUNA.

HCR154

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

154

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

requesting the County of hawai
ʻ
i to expand the hele-on shared ride
program to serve the entire island of hawai
ʻ
i,
including rural and underserved areas such as west hawai
ʻ
i, north kohala, south kohala, ka
ʻ
Ū
, and puna
.

����
WHEREAS, reliable,
affordable, and accessible transportation is a critical component of public
infrastructure that enables residents to meet basic needs, maintain
independence, and fully participate in their communities; and

����
WHEREAS, individuals
with disabilities, kupuna, and residents with chronic health conditions often
rely on specialized or accessible transportation services to attend medical
appointments, obtain prescriptions, access supportive services, and maintain
their overall health and well-being; and

����
WHEREAS, residents
of rural and geographically isolated areas of the island of Hawai
ʻ
i face
disproportionate transportation barriers due to long travel distances, limited
fixed-route bus service, and a lack of on-demand transportation options; and

����
WHEREAS, these
barriers are particularly acute in west Hawai
ʻ
i,
Ka
ʻ
ū, North
Kohala, and South Kohala, where access to health care facilities, social
services, and employment opportunities often requires long-distance travel; and

����
WHEREAS, the
County of Hawai
ʻ
i
Mass Transit Agency currently operates the Hele-On Shared Ride Program
exclusively in east Hawai
ʻ
i,
offering subsidized, on-demand transportation services that are accessible to
individuals who use mobility devices; and

����
WHEREAS, effective
July 1, 2023, the Hele-On Shared Ride Program subsidizes up to $15.80 per trip,
equivalent to approximately four miles, with passengers responsible for any
remaining balance, thereby increasing flexibility, eliminating the use of
traditional taxi coupons, and allowing unlimited travel based on individual
need; and

����
WHEREAS, participation
in the program requires eligible individuals to obtain a Shared Ride Program
Identification Card, helping ensure that transportation support is provided to
those who need it most while maintaining program accountability; and

����
WHEREAS, at
present, shared ride providers participating in the program operate only in the
Hilo area, with no participating companies serving Puna, Ka
ʻ
ū, Waimea, South
Kohala, North Kohala, or west Hawai
ʻ
i,
including Kailua-Kona; and

����
WHEREAS, the
absence of island-wide shared ride service limits access to timely health care,
contributes to missed medical appointments, and increases isolation for
individuals who are unable to drive or who require accessible transportation;
and

����
WHEREAS, expanding
the Hele-On Shared Ride Program to serve the entire island of Hawai
ʻ
i would advance
transportation equity, support independent living for people with disabilities,
improve health care access in rural communities, and reduce disparities between
east and west Hawai
ʻ
i;
and

����
WHEREAS, an
island-wide expansion would also complement existing Hele-On fixed-route
services, encourage partnerships with local transportation providers, and
support a more integrated and responsive public transit system for the island
of Hawai
ʻ
i; now,
therefore,

����
BE IT
RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the
State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2026, the Senate concurring, that the
County of Hawai
ʻ
i
is requested to expand the Hele-On Shared Ride Program to serve the entire
island of Hawai
ʻ
i,
including rural and underserved areas such as west Hawai
ʻ
i, North Kohala, South Kohala, Ka
ʻ
ū, and Puna; and

����
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that the County of Hawai
ʻ
i
Mass Transit Agency is requested to:

����
(1)
�
Prioritize accessibility for individuals with
disabilities, including ensuring the availability of vehicles that accommodate
mobility devices and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act;

����
(2)
�
Collaborate with local taxi, shared-ride, and
transportation providers to increase participation in areas that currently lack
service, including west Hawai
ʻ
i
and other rural districts;

����
(3)
�
Consider the expansion of the Hele-On Shared
Ride Program as a means of improving access to health care services, including
medical appointments, pharmacies, and supportive care, particularly for kupuna,
individuals with disabilities, and residents without access to personal
vehicles; and

����
(4)
�
Explore phased implementation, pilot programs,
or other cost-effective strategies to support island-wide expansion of the
Hele-On Shared Ride Program, subject to available funding; and

����
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the
Mayor of the County of Hawai
ʻ
i,
Chair of the Hawai
ʻ
i
County Council, and Administrator of the County of Hawai
ʻ
i Mass Transit Agency.

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:
�

Hele-On
Shared Ride Program; County of Hawaii; Expansion