TheBus

Public Bus Transit Servicesthebus.org

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

Public bus transit
Paratransit services
Contactless fare payment
Fixed-route transportation
Municipal transit agency

Where TheBus is headquartered

Location

Headquarters

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 offering

Core 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 profile

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

TheBus technology and API

Technology

Technology 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 signal

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

City and County of HonolulucoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOTS (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 TransitcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTheBus 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)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHART 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 assessment

Broad 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 compliance and trust

Trust signal

Compliance1 record

TheBus financial estimates

Financial estimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

TheBus leadership team

Management profile

Number of profiles

TheBus funding detail

Funding detail

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

TheBus M&A and investment

M&A and investment

M&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?

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.