TheBus begins transition to HOLO card, phase out of paper

July 6, 2021

TheBus will continue to honor valid passes, one-way tickets and cash on board, as well as HOLO cards, which now come with fare capping features.

Mischa Wanek-Libman

July 1 marked the end of paper monthly passes, stickers and paper one-day passes as the City and County of Honolulu's Department of Transportation Services (DTS) encourages adoption of the HOLO card to ride TheBus service.

The first day of July also marked the start of expanded fare capping for HOLO card users. HOLO card users received free electronic transfers within 2.5 hours from the first paid tap. After the 2.5 hours, the HOLO card will be charged for the second tap and any following taps will be free. Additionally, HOLO card users will not be charged beyond the value of a monthly pass and once a registered HOLO card reaches the monthly fare within a current month, the card will not be charged for the remainder of that month.

The HOLO card system was introduced to riders in 2018 and was developed in partnership with INIT. In April, DTS announced the phase out of paper and the transition to HOLO cards.

In addition to a HOLO card, TheBus will continue to accept cash fares, valid passes and one-way tickets.

About the Author

Mischa Wanek-Libman | Group Editorial Director

Mischa Wanek-Libman is director of communications with Transdev North America. She has more than 20 years of experience working in the transportation industry covering construction projects, engineering challenges, transit and rail operations and best practices.

Wanek-Libman has held top editorial positions at freight rail and public transportation business-to-business publications including as editor-in-chief and editorial director of Mass Transit from 2018-2024. She has been recognized for editorial excellence through her individual work, as well as for collaborative content.

She is an active member of the American Public Transportation Association's Marketing and Communications Committee and served 14 years as a Board Observer on the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) Board of Directors.

She is a graduate of Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Mass Communication.