What's happening at PGV
Friday February 12, 2010
Hele On, Uahiapele!
Puna Geothermal Venture Asset Fund helps obtain new county buses
Two new Hele On buses, equipped with air conditioning, fully padded seats, wheel chair lifts, bike racks and stereo sound, are shuttling residents around Puna and beyond these days.
They are two of nine new 33- and 49-passenger coaches, seven purchased with federal monies and two with funds from the Puna Geothermal Asset Fund.
The buses were given Hawaiian names for winds from certain areas, Uahiapele for Kilauea and Kuehulepo for Kau.
Sixty students from Keaukaha Elementary School inaugurated the vehicles, draped with maile lei and ti leaves, on a drive through downtown Hilo on January 29.
This brings the Big Island fleet to 59, increasing not only the number of buses but the routes they serve.
“Aside from having more seats available, the public will be in for a really comfortable ride,” said Hawai’i County Transit Administrator Tom Brown. He praised PGV for its role in the purchase.Also on hand for the inaugural event were Hawaii County Councilperson Emily Nae’ole-Beason, who helped obtain the PGV funds, and Ilihia Gionson of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.
All the new buses will be given Hawaiian names honoring specific winds representing geographical locations throughout the county.
Coming next to a bus stop near you—a Hele On double-decker bus.