MEO Molokai

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MEO Molokai MEO Inc. located on Molokai, Social & Transportation service

MEO bus services on Molokaʻi are slowly returning to normal following the recent Kona storms, with the exception of the ...
03/25/2026

MEO bus services on Molokaʻi are slowly returning to normal following the recent Kona storms, with the exception of the East route.

The East route, which was fully suspended on Tuesday, March 24, will reopen on Wednesday, March 25, with a modified route. Buses will only travel as far as Kilohana School.

Following an inspection by MEO officials, significant amounts of thick mud were found at the turnaround in Pukoo (Mile Marker 16). For safety reasons, East route buses will now turn around at Kilohana School (Mile Marker 13).

Mahalo nui loa to Kilohana School Principal Shona Mae Pineda for allowing MEO to utilize the school parking lot.

This shortened route will remain in place at least through the end of the week.

In other storm-related updates, the MEO Head Start preschool in Kaunakakai will reopen on Wednesday.

For questions, please call the MEO office at (808) 553-3216.

Mahalo for your patience and understanding as we continue to prioritize safety.

Maui Economic Opportunity, Inc. (MEO) announces updates to transportation and other operations countywide for Monday, Ma...
03/23/2026

Maui Economic Opportunity, Inc. (MEO) announces updates to transportation and other operations countywide for Monday, March 23 – including shutdown of Moloka`i operations – due to Kona storm 2 impacts.

MEO Moloka`i transportation services will be suspended. Head Start preschool and the Moloka`i office, both located at 380 Kolapa Place in Kaunakakai, also will be closed following the heavy rain and other damage from the storm. Services will be reopened and modified as storm conditions and impacts are assessed.

MEO’s Wailuku office, located at 99 Mahalani St., will operate a regular 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. schedule. Maui Bus paratransit and Human Services transportation have returned to regular operations.
MEO’s Hana branch office at 5060 Uakea Road will continue to provide modified transportation services within Hana town only.

Travel on Hana Highway to East Maui is limited to emergency vehicles, essential workers and local traffic due to ongoing repair work and dangerous conditions.

The Hana office anticipates resuming Kahului shuttle operations on Tuesday, March 24. For East Maui transportation reservations or questions, call (808) 866-8925.

The MEO Head Start location in Lahaina will also be closed on Monday, March 23, due to storm impacts in West Maui. Head Start families will be notified of changes to operations on an ongoing basis.

03/23/2026

MEO Moloka`i transportation services, office in Kaunakakai and Head Start preschool will be closed Monday, March 23, following the flooding and other impacts from the Kona storm.
MEO apologizes for any inconvenience.

03/21/2026

MEO Moloka’i canceled all rides today due to hazardous conditions from the Kona storm.
MEO will announce when service resumes.

Dawn Joao-Harris became the second Moloka`i resident to earn a Commercial Driver’s License through an Maui Economic Oppo...
03/19/2026

Dawn Joao-Harris became the second Moloka`i resident to earn a Commercial Driver’s License through an Maui Economic Opportunity training program and will allow MEO to restore five routes on the island suspended due to a driver shortage.

Joao-Harris is MEO’s sixth Personal Assistance Technician (PAT) with another CDL trainee in the pipeline. When that individual completes the program later this month, MEO Moloka`i will have a full complement of drivers, which could lead to streamlining schedules and possibly the addition of routes based on community surveys currently being circulated.

With no other CDL training opportunities on Moloka`i and a demand for bus drivers, MEO created the in-house program. Driver Supervisor Amy Makaiwi runs the training program for the CDL, a required qualification for an MEO bus driver on Moloka`i.

Joao-Harris passed her CDL exam on March 2 and has been training to drive MEO buses that provide the island’s only mass transit option through a Human Services transportation contract with the County of Maui.

Born on Oahu but raised on Moloka‘i, Joao-Harris is a graduate of Molokai High & Intermediate School. After high school, she lived on Kaua‘i and Maui before settling down in Hilo for 12 years. Joao-Harris made her way back to Moloka‘i, accepting a position with `Ohana by Hawaiian.

She decided to make Moloka`i her home, even after the airline folded in 2021.

Joao-Harris says she is grateful for the opportunity to give back to the community that raised her and feels proud and honored to be part of the team serving her special island.

MEO has a Human Services contract with the County of Maui to provide transportation in the rural communities of Moloka’i, Lana’i and East Maui. For more information about transportations services on Molokaʻi, call (808) 553-3218; on Lanaʻi, (808) 565-6665; in Hana, (808) 248-8282; on Maui, (808) 877-7651.

In addition to the Human Services contract, MEO also operates paratransit services for the Maui Bus by reservation. Drivers for both Human Service and paratransit operations are needed on Maui.

If you are interested in becoming a driver, call MEO Human Resources at (808) 249-2990.

Caption:
Dawn Joao-Harris, who earned her CDL earlier this month, poses with MEO Driver Supervisor Amy Makaiwi, who was Joao-Harris’ CDL trainer through a new MEO program on Moloka`i.

Maui Economic Opportunity Maui Bus paratransit and partial Human Services operations for dialysis and essential medical ...
03/16/2026

Maui Economic Opportunity Maui Bus paratransit and partial Human Services operations for dialysis and essential medical appointments only on Moloka`i, Lāna`i and Maui, except for East Maui, will resume Monday, March 16.

MEO buses in Hana will run again when the town reopens and the roads are deemed safe.

Impacts from the Kona storm shut down MEO’s Human Services and Maui Bus paratransit services on Saturday, March 14, and MEO buses were not running today.

MEO buses did provide emergency transport today in coordination with the Maui County Department of Transportation and Maui Emergency Management Agency.

“Rider and driver safety are the priority,” said MEO CEO Debbie Cabebe. “We must ensure passage is staff before resuming full operations.”

MEO Transportation in Puunene can be reached at (808) 877-7651, on Moloka`i at (808) 553-3218 and on Lana`i at (808) 565-6665.
MEO offices in Wailuku, Kaunakakai, Moloka`i, and Lāna`i City will be open Monday, March 16, after closing Friday, March 13, due to the Kona storm. The Hana office will remain closed until buses begin running again.

All MEO Head Start preschool centers are closed this week for Spring Break.

Caption:
An MEO bus drops off kupuna at the Grand Wailea on July 26 for the Kupuna Aloha Luncheon. MEO Maui Bus paratransit and partial Human Services operations will resume Monday, March 16.

Maui Economic Opportunity will be suspending transportation services today, March 14, due to hazardous road conditions c...
03/14/2026

Maui Economic Opportunity will be suspending transportation services today, March 14, due to hazardous road conditions caused by the strong Kona storm overnight.

The decision to halt The Maui Bus paratransit and Human Service operations on Maui (including East Maui), Moloka`i and Lāna`i was made in consultation with the Maui County Department of Transportation.

MEO will advise the public when service is restored.

MEO apologizes for any inconvenience to riders.

Caption:
Maui Economic Opportunity bus service is suspended today, March 14, due to hazardous road conditions. An MEO bus is shown in the Maui County Fair Parade on Oct. 2.

03/13/2026

Maui Economic Opportunity will be closing its Wailuku, Hana, Kaunakakai, Moloka`i, and Lāna`i City offices and Head Start preschools Friday, March 13, due to the fierce wind and rain forecast from the powerful Kona storm.

Maui Bus paratransit service, operated by MEO, and Human Services transportation will continue operating and will provide essential and emergency evacuation services as needed.

For the safety of clients and staff, riders are strongly encouraged to stay home unless travel is necessary for their health or safety and to cancel any scheduled rides that will not be taken.

MEO Transportation can be reached at (808) 877-7651.

MEO offices countywide will close promptly at 4:30 p.m. today, March 12, to allow staff to get home safely and be off the roads during a calm in the Kona storm.

MEO apologizes for any inconvenience to the public.

A Hawaiian Homes homesteader who recently returned to Moloka`i is the first resident to obtain a Commercial Driver’s Lic...
02/11/2026

A Hawaiian Homes homesteader who recently returned to Moloka`i is the first resident to obtain a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) in Maui Economic Opportunity’s new CDL training program on the island.

Kayla Luuloa passed her CDL exam on Feb. 5 and will be training to drive MEO buses that provide the island’s only mass transit option through a Human Services transportation contract with the County of Maui.

With no other CDL training opportunities on Moloka`i and a demand for bus drivers, MEO created the in-house program. Driver Supervisor Amy Makaiwi runs the training program for the CDL, a required qualification for an MEO bus driver on Moloka`i.

Kayla’s dad gave her the homestead, which led her to give up city life for the slower, rural farming life. At first, she tried commuting back and forth to Oahu for work but ended up deciding to stay on Moloka`i to rebuild the homestead and to be present for her wife and two step-children.

Once the homestead rebuilding was completed, Kayla started looking for work and came across the MEO CDL Driver Trainee position. MEO pays a stipend while prospective drivers obtain their CDL.

“The process was long, and there were many frustrations throughout the training,” she said. “Looking back at all the studying and effort I put in, it was all worth it.

“The stress is gone and a heavy weight has been lifted off my shoulders. Now I can go home to my family with peace of mind.”

Kayla is MEO Moloka`i’s fifth Personal Assistance Technician (PAT). There is an individual in the training program and another being on-boarded.

MEO has a Human Services contract with the County of Maui to provide transportation in the rural communities of Moloka`i, Lana`i and East Maui. For more information about transportations services on Moloka`i, call (808) 553-3218; on Lana`i, (808) 565-6665; in Hana, (808) 248-8282; on Maui, (808) 877-7651.

In addition to the Human Services contract, MEO also operates paratransit services for The Maui Bus by reservation. Drivers for both Human Service and paratransit operations are needed.

If you are interested in becoming a driver, call MEO Human Resources at (808) 249-2990.

A retirement celebration for driver Nelson Umemoto was held Friday at MEO Moloka`i in Kaunakakai. For the last 16 years,...
11/20/2025

A retirement celebration for driver Nelson Umemoto was held Friday at MEO Moloka`i in Kaunakakai.
For the last 16 years, Nelson has driven island residents to their important activities and appointments.
When named MEO Employee of the Month in 2023, MEO Moloka`i Branch Manager Mahie McPherson said of "Uncle" Nelson: “He is highly respectful to all of his riders. He truly makes it a point to make all riders feel invited and comfortable on his bus."
“Nelson is always positive, always smiling and is always inclined to accommodate our transportation needs,” she said, noting that he stays late and comes in early as needed.
“He really is a joy to work with” and “is an outstanding representation of MEO,” Mahie said.
Enjoy retirement, Nelson.

Maui Economic Opportunity’s Head Start preschool classrooms on Maui and Moloka`i are not currently impacted by the feder...
11/01/2025

Maui Economic Opportunity’s Head Start preschool classrooms on Maui and Moloka`i are not currently impacted by the federal government shutdown and will remain open.

While some of our Head Start partners have had to close due to funding issues, MEO’s Head Start operates on a different program year, June 1, 2025, to May 31, 2026, explained MEO CEO Debbie Cabebe. This means that MEO Head Start is funded for the current school year.

“MEO would like our Head Start parents and the community to know that our preschool program remains open,” said Cabebe. “This is not the case for some communities across the nation, forcing families to scramble to secure child care or to stay home from work.

“We feel for those families and our fellow Head Start programs, which give low income families the opportunity to thrive and their children the chance to succeed in school.”

For 60 years, MEO has run Head Start, which is available to 3- and 4-year-olds without charge to income-qualifying families. The program currently enrolls 180 children annually with sites in Haiku, Makawao, Wailuku, Kahului, Kihei, Lahaina and Kaunakakai, Moloka`i.

Caption:
MEO Head Start Makawao center enjoyed the experience of “hands-on” pumpkin carving on Halloween 2023. Lead Teacher Jennifer McGurn supported the carving process while the keiki assisted with cleaning out the pumpkins.

Catching up Employee of the Months . . . Moloka`i Driver Supervisor Esmeralda Amy Makaiwi, “a steady pillar of support” ...
10/30/2025

Catching up Employee of the Months . . .

Moloka`i Driver Supervisor Esmeralda Amy Makaiwi, “a steady pillar of support” for the last 25 years, was named Maui Economic Opportunity Employee of the Month for June.

Molokai`i Branch Manager Mahie McPherson nominated Amy and said: “Amy’s 25 years of dedicated service – and the positive impact she continues to make in our community, are a true testament to her character.

“Her respect for other is unwavering – Amy treats every person she encounters with dignity, patience and kindness. She fosters an environment where everyone feels seen, valued and included.”
Amy is an integral part of MEO’s Moloka`i transportation system, which is effectively the island’s mass transit service provided through a Maui County grant.

For being named Employee of the Month, Amy earned a $150 check and an extra day off. Mahie received $50 as Amy’s nominator. The announcement was made at the staff general meeting on May 23.

Address

380 Kolapa Place
Kaunakakai, HI
96748

Opening Hours

Monday 7:45am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 7:45am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 7:45am - 4:30pm
Thursday 7:45am - 4:30pm
Friday 7:45am - 4:30pm
Saturday 7:45am - 4:30pm

Telephone

(808) 553-3216

Website

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