Homeschool benefits and savings in Maui County
Maui Bus fixed routes are free for riders age 24 and younger who show a photo ID with proof of age or a student ID, saving the $2.00 one-way fare. Parents in Maui County households under 200% of the Federal Poverty Level for Hawaii can also ride free with a fare-free ID card from Maui Economic Opportunity (MEO).
Who qualifies
Is 24 or younger
Youth ride fixed routes free with a valid photo ID that proves age or a student ID. Your child does not need to apply.
Is 5 or under
Children 5 and under ride free when accompanied by a paying passenger.
Household under 200% FPL
Adults in Maui County households below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level for Hawaii can apply to MEO for a fare-free ID card, with one application per household from an adult 18 or older.
Shows proof of income
The adult application needs ID, such as a driver's license, State ID, passport, or birth certificate, plus one income document, such as last year's W-2 and two months of pay stubs.
What the fare saves
Maui County's fare table, effective March 1, 2024, lists what a rider pays without a fare-free category.
- Youth 24 and younger with ID
- Free
- Fare-free ID cardholder
- Free
- Regular one-way fare
- $2.00
- Daily pass, fixed routes
- $4.00
- Monthly pass, fixed routes and commuter
- $45.00
The free youth fare covers fixed routes; the $2.00 general fare also applies to commuter and ADA paratransit service, so ask before using those.
How to ride free
- Before you ride
Get your child a photo ID
A photo ID with proof of age, such as a State ID or passport, works for a homeschooled child who has no student ID.
- On the bus
Show the ID to the driver
Youth, seniors 55 and older, and Medicare cardholders show their ID and ride fixed routes free without applying.
- For income-eligible adults
Apply to MEO
Mail, fax, or email the Fare-Free Transit Application and income documents to Maui Economic Opportunity. Processing takes up to 21 days.
- Each year
Renew the adult card
Income-based fare-free cards must be renewed annually with current documents.
What it includes
Included
- Maui Bus fixed routes
- Youth 24 and younger
- Adults with a fare-free ID card
Not included
- Riders without qualifying ID
- Replacement of lost passes
Good to know
Any valid photo ID showing age works
Riders 24 and younger qualify with a valid photo ID showing proof of age, so a State ID or passport works in place of a student ID.
Who to contact about free fares
Maui Economic Opportunity processes fare-free ID applications for income-eligible households and riders with disabilities.
farefree@meoinc.org 808-877-7651 Maui Bus fares and application
Homeschool rules and statewide help in Hawaii
You must submit Form 4140 or a letter of intent to the assigned public-school principal before starting. A new notice is required when moving to another school’s geographic area or changing school level; notify the principal when ending homeschooling.
Hawaii sets these rules:
- Subjects: Parents choose instruction suited to the child’s needs and interests; Hawaii does not require the public-school curriculum.
- Testing: Submit an annual progress report. Provide nationally normed standardized test scores in grades 3, 5, 8, and 10; those scores may serve as that year’s report. Other years may use an accepted teacher evaluation or the parent’s written evaluation with supporting work and test samples.
- Records: Keep the curriculum plan listing program dates, instructional hours, subject areas, mastery methods, and instructional materials, plus annual progress-report evidence.
- Teachers: Hawaii does not require a teaching certificate or degree to homeschool your own child.
Read the Hawaii homeschooling guide See statewide programs in Hawaii
Questions parents ask
- Do I need to apply for my child's free Maui Bus fare?
- No. Youth, seniors, Medicare recipients, and paratransit cardholders do not apply for the program; they show the qualifying ID to the driver.
- Can I ride free too?
- Only if you qualify on your own, for example by age 55 or older, Medicare, disability, or a household income below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level for Hawaii with an MEO fare-free card.
- Where do I send the adult application?
- Mail it to Maui Economic Opportunity, P.O. Box 2122, Kahului, HI 96733, fax it to 808-871-2171, or email it to farefree@meoinc.org.
Turn support into your child’s next lesson
A student fare helps with trips to classes and activities. We handle the learning at home, with lessons built around your child's interests and feedback on their work.
$149/month per child after the trial.
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