What Services Does TheBus Offer Besides Regular Bus Routes?

TheBus (thebus.org) is the public transit brand for the City and County of Honolulu on the island of Oʻahu, and its site lists more than fixed-route buses. Alongside regular routes, it covers TheHandi-Van, a paratransit service for riders who qualify under ADA criteria, and Skyline, Honolulu's rail transit line. These appear as top-level sections on the site, so the practical answer is: check the specific page for TheHandi-Van or Skyline before you travel, because eligibility rules, routes, and operating details are not interchangeable with regular bus service.

TheHandi-Van: paratransit for eligible riders

TheHandi-Van is the ADA complementary paratransit service. It is not an open-to-all on-demand ride — riders must be certified as eligible because a disability prevents them from using regular fixed-route buses.

• Who it's for: passengers who meet the eligibility standard; certification is required before booking.
• How it differs from TheBus: it provides origin-to-destination service rather than scheduled stops on fixed routes.
• What to verify on the site: the application/certification process, how to book trips, and any service-area or time limits.

If you are unsure whether you qualify, the eligibility page is the deciding document — not the general bus information.

Skyline: Honolulu's rail service

Skyline is the rail component of Oʻahu's transit network, listed as its own section on thebus.org. It is a separate mode from buses, so treat it as its own system when planning:

• What it is: rail transit serving Honolulu.
• How it connects: it is part of the same island transit network as TheBus, so trips may combine rail and bus segments.
• What to verify on the site: current stations, hours, and how fares or passes work across modes.

Because rail systems change as lines and stations open, confirm the current map and schedule on the Skyline page rather than relying on older descriptions.

How the pieces fit together

TheBus, TheHandi-Van, and Skyline are presented as parts of one public transit network for Oʻahu. That matters for planning:

A trip can involve more than one mode, but each has its own rules, so plan segment by segment.

Other sections worth knowing

The site's navigation also includes Careers and a City and County of Honolulu link. Careers is for job seekers, not riders, and the City and County link points to the parent government. Neither changes how you ride, but they explain why the site mixes rider information with organizational content.

What to check before you travel

• For TheHandi-Van: confirm eligibility first, then booking rules.
• For Skyline: confirm current stations and hours.
• For combined trips: check whether fares or passes carry across bus and rail.
• For anything time-sensitive: use the specific service page, since general pages won't reflect schedule or policy changes.

The short version: TheBus is the umbrella for Oʻahu public transit, and beyond regular routes it includes TheHandi-Van (eligibility-based paratransit) and Skyline (rail). Verify eligibility, routes, and hours on each service's own page before relying on them.