Walking School Bus Takes the Lead in Reducing Chronic Absenteeism in Hawaii Schools. (Photo Courtesy: Partners in Development Foundation)

Chronic absenteeism is a challenge for schools across the nation, but Hawaii is stepping up with an innovative solution. The state’s school districts have found a way to tackle this issue head-on, with the help of volunteers, a little creativity, and, believe it or not, a walking school bus. It’s not just any walk to school—this program is reducing absenteeism while ensuring kids get to school safely.
The idea behind the walking school bus program is simple but effective. Volunteers lead groups of students along designated, safe routes to school, with the added benefit of making scheduled “stops” to pick up other students along the way. This initiative, launched on December 16th, 2024, was brought to life by the Partners in Development Foundation‘s Piha Me Ka Pono program, in collaboration with Kealakehe Elementary and Kealakehe Intermediate schools. The goal is to both improve attendance rates and ensure the safety of the students walking to school.
A safer route to school
With no public or school transportation options available in the area and concerns about traffic, the walking school bus provides a much-needed solution. As quoted by the Partners in Development Foundation, Shonna Ontiveros, the Lead Community School Coordinator at Kealakehe Intermediate, “Kids often walk to school from their homes, but 8 out of 10 times, they don’t make it because they stop at a friend’s house, and their parents aren’t aware.” This created a huge gap in attendance, leading Ontiveros to propose the walking school bus program after seeing its success in a New Mexico community school.
The walking school bus is more than just a fun way to get to school. It’s about creating a structured, safe route with marked crosswalks and adult supervision. Volunteers, who dedicate their mornings to helping, ensure that kids follow a predetermined path with good visibility, helping to avoid traffic accidents. The program started strong, with about 50 students from Kealakehe Elementary taking part, as reported by the Partners in Development Foundation.

Community involvement and success
The program’s launch was a huge success, with 14 volunteers showing up to help on the first day. Shonnalee Ontiveros, quoted by the Partners in Development Foundation, “The response was incredible. We had 14 volunteers show up to help with the first walk. The energy was contagious, and it was clear we were off to a great start!”
The walking school bus is currently operating on Monday mornings, one of the days with the highest absentee rates. The program has shown promising results, and organizers hope to expand it this spring with more volunteers. It’s clear that walking to school can be more than just a way to get from home to class—it can be a game-changer for school attendance, safety, and community involvement.