TheBus
TheBus, operated by Oahu Transit Services, Inc. for the City and County of Honolulu, is the primary fixed-route public bus and paratransit (TheHandi-Van) system serving the island of Oahu, Hawaii, integrated with Skyline rail via the shared HOLO Card fare system.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1971
- HeadquartersHonolulu, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What TheBus does
TheBus is the primary fixed-route public bus transit system serving the island of Oahu, Hawaii, operated by Oahu Transit Services, Inc. (OTS), a private corporation functioning as an instrumentality of the City and County of Honolulu. Founded in 1971 and headquartered at 811 Middle Street in Honolulu, the service operates multiple fixed routes connecting major destinations including Waikiki, downtown Honolulu, Kalihi Transit Center, Kahala, Hawaii Kai, and Kaneohe, supplemented by TheHandi-Van paratransit service for mobility-impaired riders who cannot use the fixed-route network. TheBus coordinates with the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) to integrate service with Skyline rail, and the two modes share the HOLO Card, a contactless smart card fare system accepted across bus and rail.
The core technology stack centers on the HOLO Card reloadable fare payment system (available for adult, youth, senior, disability, and Medicare riders), the HEA (Honolulu Transit Information) rider support portal, and a Web Services API that exposes route, schedule, and real-time transit data to third-party developers. Distribution is conducted through a direct-to-consumer physical network: fixed bus stops island-wide, the Kalihi Transit Pass Office, Satellite City Hall retail points (including Ala Moana Center), and the U-PASS university channel. The system is multilingual, with rider materials and customer service support in English, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Japanese, Tagalog, Ilokano, and Chuukese.
TheBus operates as a contract-funded municipal service: revenue is generated through transit fares (cash, monthly passes, HOLO Card loads) across multiple fare categories with reduced rates for seniors (65+), youth (6-17), disabled riders, Medicare recipients, and low-income residents, supplemented by public funding from the City and County of Honolulu. Fare restructuring is scheduled for 7/1/2026. The customer base is structurally diversified across demographic segments of the general public, with no commercial enterprise customers; financial dependence rests on a single municipal sponsor. Revenue figures are not publicly disclosed.
TheBus firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- TheBus
- Legal name
- Oahu Transit Services, Inc.
- Website
- https://thebus.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1971
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- TheBus, operated by Oahu Transit Services, Inc. for the City and County of Honolulu, is the primary fixed-route public bus and paratransit (TheHandi-Van) system serving the island of Oahu, Hawaii, integrated with Skyline rail via the shared HOLO Card fare system.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
TheBus industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Bus Transit Services
- NAICS
- Bus and Other Motor Vehicle Transit Systems (485113), Special Needs Transportation (485991), School and Employee Bus Transportation (485410)
- SIC
- Local & Suburban Transit & Interurban Hwy Passenger Trans (4100), Transportation Services (4700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Fixed-Route Urban Bus Operators (Municipal/Regional) (TLAFAGAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Community & Senior Transportation Shuttles (Dial-a-Ride, Non-ADA) (TLAFAJAI), Accessible Airport Shuttle & Special-Needs Transport (THAIAFAJ), Campus Shuttle & Fixed-Route Transit Services (EDALAKAC)
Keywords
Where TheBus is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Honolulu
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
TheBus business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Transit Fares and Passes: Revenue generated from passenger fares including cash fares, monthly passes, and HOLO Card loads for adult, youth, senior, disability, Medicare, and TheHandi-Van services. Fares vary by rider category with reduced rates for seniors (65+), youth (6-17), disabled individuals, and Medicare recipients.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Adult Fares - Standard transit fares for general adult riders |
| Subscription | Monthly | Youth Fares - Reduced fares for riders ages 6-17 |
| Subscription | Monthly | Senior Fares - Reduced fares for riders age 65 and older |
| Subscription | Monthly | Disability Fares - Reduced fares for disabled riders with valid certification |
| Subscription | Monthly | U.S. Medicare Card Fares - Reduced fares for Medicare recipients |
| Subscription | Monthly | TheHandi-Van - Paratransit service for mobility-impaired riders |
| Subscription | Annual | Low Income Card - Reduced fares for qualifying low-income riders |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
TheBus product offering
Product offeringCore offering
TheBus operates fixed-route public bus transit service across the island of Oahu, Hawaii, supplemented by TheHandi-Van paratransit service for disabled riders. Service is accessed through bus stops, the Transit Pass Office at Kalihi Transit Center, and the HOLO Card contactless fare payment system, which is interoperable with Skyline rail.
Product overview
TheBus, operated by Oahu Transit Services, Inc., is the public bus transit system serving Honolulu and the island of Oahu, Hawaii. The service operates a fleet of fixed-route buses across approximately 20+ routes, connecting major destinations including Waikiki, downtown Honolulu, Kalihi Transit Center, residential areas, and employment centers. The core offering is supplemented by TheHandi-Van paratransit service for disabled riders, the HOLO Card contactless fare payment system, and connections to Skyline rail service. TheBus also provides a Web Services API for developers and offers the U-PASS program for university students. Transit Pass Offices provide in-person customer service and fare card management. The system integrates multimodal transportation options including bus, rail, and paratransit services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- TheBus Fixed-Route Bus Service Public fixed-route bus transit service operating across the island of Oahu, Hawaii, with multiple routes connecting major destinations including Waikiki, downtown Honolulu, Kalihi Transit Center, Kahala, Hawaii Kai, and Kaneohe. Designed for general public riders needing daily commute, shopping, appointment, and general transportation access.
- TheHandi-Van Paratransit Service Door-to-door paratransit service for individuals with disabilities who are unable to use the regular TheBus fixed-route service. Requires eligibility application and certification. Operated by Oahu Transit Services, Inc.
- HOLO Card Contactless Fare System Reloadable contactless fare card accepted on TheBus and Skyline rail services. Available for Adult, Youth, Senior, Disability, and Medicare riders. Sold at the Transit Pass Office, Satellite City Halls, online at holocard.net, and participating retail locations.
- Updated Honolulu Transit Fares (effective 7/1/2026)
Companies that use TheBus
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
TheBus technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Feature3 records
TheBus partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- City and County of HonolulucoreOTS (Oahu Transit Services, Inc.) operates TheBus as an instrumentality of the City and County of Honolulu. The city oversees the transit agency and provides funding through public transit budgets.
- Skyline Rail TransitcoreTheBus integrates with Skyline, Honolulu's rail transit system. Routes connect to Skyline stations, and the HOLO Card is accepted on both bus and rail services.
- Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART)coreHART oversees Skyline rail; TheBus coordinates service connections and HOLO Card integration with the rail system.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
TheBus competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro): Large municipal transit operator running fixed-route bus and rail across Los Angeles County. Comparable as a public-agency bus operator with multimodal integration, multilingual service, and reduced fare programs for seniors, students, and disabled riders.
- Chicago Transit Authority (CTA): Large US municipal bus and rail operator. Comparable as a public fixed-route bus system with reduced fare categories, real-time tracking, and ADA paratransit (via a separate agency).
- MTA New York City Transit (NYC Bus): Operates fixed-route bus service within New York City and provides paratransit (Access-A-Ride). Comparable as a large municipal bus operator with reduced fares, OMNY fare integration with subway, and ADA paratransit obligations.
- Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA): State-authority bus and rapid transit operator serving Greater Boston. Comparable in multimodal integration (bus + rail via CharlieCard), reduced fare programs, and paratransit (The RIDE) for disabled riders.
- Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA): Regional bus and metro operator serving Washington D.C. metro area. Comparable in integrated fare payment (SmarTrip), reduced fare programs, and MetroAccess paratransit for disabled riders.
Direct peers
- San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA / Muni): Operates fixed-route bus service and paratransit within San Francisco, similar in scale and service mix to TheBus. Comparable urban bus operator with reduced-fare programs and integration with regional rail.
- King County Metro (Seattle): Operates fixed-route bus service and paratransit (Access) across King County, Washington. Closely comparable structure as a county-level bus operator with reduced fares, ORCA card integration with regional rail, and multilingual services.
- Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District (TriMet): Fixed-route bus and light rail operator serving Portland, Oregon. Comparable as a mid-size public bus operator with HOP Fastpass integration, reduced fare categories, and LIFT paratransit service.
- Miami-Dade Transit: Operates fixed-route bus and Metrorail across Miami-Dade County, with EASY Card fare integration. Comparable as a county-level multimodal transit operator with reduced fares and paratransit (Special Transportation Service).
Others
- Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART): Oversees Skyline rail construction and operations on Oahu. Not a direct competitor — operates the rail system that integrates with TheBus via HOLO Card, creating a strategic partnership rather than competitive overlap.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
TheBus social profiles
Digital presenceTheBus compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
TheBus financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
TheBus leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
TheBus funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
TheBus M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about TheBus
What does TheBus do?
TheBus operates fixed-route public bus transit service across the island of Oahu, Hawaii, supplemented by TheHandi-Van paratransit service for disabled riders. Service is accessed through bus stops, the Transit Pass Office at Kalihi Transit Center, and the HOLO Card contactless fare payment system, which is interoperable with Skyline rail.
Is TheBus a public or private company?
TheBus is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was TheBus founded?
TheBus was founded in 1971. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is TheBus based?
TheBus is headquartered in Honolulu, United States, in the North America region.
How does TheBus make money?
One revenue line is on record: transit Fares and Passes.
Who are TheBus's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro), Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), MTA New York City Transit (NYC Bus), Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). Direct peers are San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA / Muni), King County Metro (Seattle), Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District (TriMet) and Miami-Dade Transit. Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) is listed as an others.
Does TheBus have an API?
Yes. TheBus operates a Web Services API for transit data. The API is accessible at http://hea.thebus.org/api_info.asp. The specific capabilities and endpoints are documented through the HEA (Honolulu Transit Information & Support Pages) system. Available data includes route information, schedules, and transit-related data. Developer documentation is at hea.thebus.org/api_info.asp.
What industry is TheBus in?
TheBus's product category is Public Bus Transit Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLAFAGAA, Fixed-Route Urban Bus Operators (Municipal/Regional), with a secondary code of TLAFAJAI, Community & Senior Transportation Shuttles (Dial-a-Ride, Non-ADA). Its NAICS code is 485113 and its SIC code is 4100.