A little more than four years ago, Kaua’i County law clerk Owen Tango decided to bring less daily stress to his life: He gave up driving to and from work between Lihu’e and west Kaua’i during the commute hours and began riding The Kaua’i Bus.
During the morning commute, he no longer has to worry about traffic congestion. He can sleep, read or collect his thoughts before he starts work at the county attorney’s office at 8 a.m.
During the evening commute, he relaxes and looks forward to interacting with his wife and two growing sons after a long work day.
Tango also is able to save on auto expenses by taking the bus daily and is able to extend the life of one of his family vehicles by driving it only around west Kaua’i.
“The bus has changed my life,” he said. “Some people say the ride is too long. Everybody thinks I am crazy to (to get around by bus rather drive his own vehicle), but I like it.”
Tango is among a growing number of residents who have found it more convenient, practical and economical to take the bus to get to island destinations.
For instance, the Kaua’i County Transportation Agency recorded 13,945 public and 5,762 paratransit rides in March of this year. Those numbers compare with 11,991 public rides and 5,643 paratransit rides for March in 2002.
More people are riding the county bus system now because of higher gas prices, the high cost of auto maintenance and insurance, $15 monthly passes that allow unlimited rides, public perception the system is more reliable and familiarity with the bus system.
And readership is likely to increase with more public education about the value of using public transportation, county officials say.
For Tango, making the transition from driving to taking the bus to get to work was difficult initially. “It was getting up early. I had to get up by at least 5 (a.m.) every morning to get the 5:30 a.m. bus ride (from a bus stop by the Kekaha Neighborhood Center).”
Because he no longer had to take care of family property in east Kaua’i, he started taking the 6 a.m. ride into town.
He gets off at the county bus stop by the Lihu’e Big Save Store by 7:30 a.m., giving him an extra 15 minutes to stretch and get a snack, if need be, before he starts work in the county attorney’s office at 7:45 a.m. daily.
Tango said taking the bus saves him $140 a month on auto expenses, money that could be used for other family needs.
Tango said he takes the bus to help reduce traffic congestion and to protect the environment. “Only one car, but it makes a difference to me.”
About a year ago, Chantal Duarte of Kekaha started taking the 5:30 a.m. bus ride from Kekaha to Lihu’e daily because there weren’t enough vehicles for family members to use.
That issue has been resolved, but Duarte said she still takes the bus because of the convenience and because “it is a lot of fun and you meet a lot of people.”
She likes sitting in a bus and not having to drive. “You don’t have to get mad at the guy in front of you. That is Helen’s job,” Duarte said.
Helen Hanohano, a bus driver for Kaua’i County for 20 years, drove the bus from Kekaha to Lihu’e on a recent morning run.
Duarte said she has known Shirley Adams, a Kekaha resident who has ridden the bus daily for the past two years, since 1979.
Over time, they lost touch, but rebuilt their friendship a year ago when Duarte began riding the bus and saw Adams. When they can, they sit together on the bus.,
Adams, a grandmother, takes the 5:30 a.m. bus ride from Kekaha to Lihu’e daily, stopping off at her daughter’s place in west Kaua’i to care for her grandchildren.
“I don’t have a car, so the bus service is very valuable to me,” Adams said.
Josie Locquiao of Kekaha said she takes the bus every morning from Kekaha to Lihu’e and then takes a connecting bus to her job at the Islander on the Beach. She sat with two co-workers, Erlinda Magayayam and Juanita Ramos.
They all said they take the bus to save on auto expenses, to ease traffic jam and to help protect the environment.
“That means three fewer cars on the road,” Locquiao said.
For the past two years, Gilbert Davis has taken the bus to get his job with the Hawaii Housing Development Corporation in Kapa’a. On the morning and afternoon commute, he says he can relax or take a nap.
“I take the bus to save money, taking the bus is a way for me to think about what I going to do during the day.”
Davis said he rode the bus when he lived in Philadelphia and New Jersey, but feels the Kaua’i bus system is better, partly because monthly passes offer unlimited rides.
Adams said she likes the morning commute from Kekaha to Lihu’e partly because she likes the driver of that run, Helen Hanohano.
“She is a very good driver. Cautious and nice,” Adams said.
Hanohano deftly maneuvers around traffic, greets riders by their first names, talks story, announces destinations before bus stops are reached and wishes riders a good day.
Hanahono likes the friendly relationship she has with riders. “It is like ohana,” she said. “This is a good bunch (the riders on the morning run).”
Staff writer Lester Chang can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 225) and mailto:lchang@pulitzer.net
