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 | Editor in Chief

Mischa Wanek-Libman serves as editor in chief of Mass Transit magazine. She is responsible for developing and maintaining the magazine’s editorial direction and is based in the western suburbs of Chicago.

Wanek-Libman has spent more than 20 years covering transportation issues including construction projects and engineering challenges for various commuter railroads and transit agencies. 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 serves as a Board Observer on the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) Board of Directors.

She is a graduate of Drake University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Mass Communication with a major in magazine journalism and a minor in business management.