The University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ is partnering with to bring a new, convenient transportation option to campus starting the week of January 12, as part of expanded services this semester that includes expansion of the shuttle route.

Hui Car Share, a self-service car rental platform that is part of Servco, allows customers to book vehicles by the hour or day through a mobile app.

With four Hui Car Share stations conveniently located at UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ by Lincoln Hall, Frear Hall, Hale Noelani and Hale Wainani, UH students and staff will have easy access to rental vehicles.

“We’re excited to launch and partner with Hui Car Share on campus, which is a great transportation option especially for our students who do not have access to personal vehicles,” said Cate Matsushima, Commuter Services manager. “This new service expands our alternative transportation choices to our UH community.”

Designed with students’ needs in mind, Hui Car Share offers flexible and eco-friendly transportation. Unlike other traditional rental companies that charge a surcharge for drivers under the age of 25, Hui welcomes drivers 18 and older at no additional cost.

Rainbow Shuttle Expansion

In addition to Hui Car Share, the Rainbow Shuttle route will also be expanded in spring 2026. The updated route will include multiple new stops along the existing Institute for Astronomy route, further enhancing campus connectivity.

For the most up-to-date Rainbow Shuttle routes and schedules, visit the .

Visitors driving to the now have a convenient new way to pay for parking. Instead of navigating pay stations, all you will need is your smartphone and the JustPark app.

This mobile payment system applies specifically to sections of parking lots with visitor green stalls. This does not affect parking for students, employees and visitors using the lower campus parking structure.

“We’re excited to launch this upgraded system as part of our efforts to improve parking services and integrate modern technology into experiences for visitors to our campus,” said Cate Matsushima, Commuter Services manager.

Improved User Experience

The JustPark app introduces a user-friendly parking app designed to save time and simplify payments for visitors. Key features include:

• Remote access: Need more time? Extend your parking session remotely through the app without returning to your car.
• Quick payments: Forget lines at pay stations. JustPark processes payments in seconds using the app.
• Time-saving benefits: Drivers can pay using location ID, eliminating the need to walk across lots to find a station.

How to get started:

1. Download the JustPark app at:
2. Enter the location ID for the designated green visitor stall area.
3. Choose your parking duration and pay directly through the app.

For more details and information, visit the .

More than 3,500 student residents are moving into residence halls at the University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at Mānoa during the week of August 19 for the fall 2024 semester.

“I feel excited, nervous, scared, but I’m excited to make new friends and meet new people,” said Lhizelle Banchiran, an incoming freshman from Maui. “The campus is huge so I’m kind of overwhelmed, but I know I’m gonna get through it.”

• Related UH News story: Hale Aloha Towers renovation completed, August 20, 2024

Incoming student residents gathered at the Stan Sheriff Center to check in, receive their room key, student ID and room information, and explore campus resources including employment, leadership and financial aid opportunities. As part of the move-in process launched in 2023, students could utilize the two-way shuttle service or drive to the residence halls from Zone 20 to reduce traffic congestion.

“We want their first experience at UH to be as comfortable as possible,” said David Akana, interim director of student housing. We wanted to have something where they know there are gonna be lines, they know it’s gonna be a little stressful. But at the same time they can feel welcome to the university.”

Jessi Arreola, another incoming freshman, expressed her ease in moving into her new home for her first year of college.

“I was a little overwhelmed at first, but once like I got settled and everything, everyone was so helpful,” said Arreola. “Right when I got out of my car, they packed my bags and took me up to my floor, and everyone was really nice. It made it so much less stressful.”

New renovations, amenities

Students moving into the Hale Aloha Towers will enjoy newly renovated lobbies and common areas in addition to new microfridge (microwave/refrigerators), which are now included in all of the rooms and or suite areas residence halls except the Hale Wainani Apartments.

“They put it in the fridge and microwave in our dorm, that was super cool. “And just walking into the front lobby it just looks so clean and so nice”, said Arreola. “To call such a nice place home for these next couple of months, I am super excited.”

The University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ will host nine commencement ceremonies including seven high school graduations starting Saturday, May 4.

The Stan Sheriff Center has been hosting more high school graduation ceremonies since Aloha Stadium was shuttered at the end of 2020.

Motorists and nearby residents should be aware of traffic delays in and around the UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ campus two hours before and one hour after each ceremony.

Commencement ceremonies

• Saturday, May 4—UH West Oʻahu from 9 a.m.–2 p.m.
• Saturday, May 11—UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ from 9 a.m.–9 p.m.
• Saturday, May 18—Farrington High School from 4:30 p.m.–10 p.m.
• Sunday, May 19—Mililani High School from 5 p.m.–11 p.m.
• Tuesday, May 21—Kalani High School from 6:30 p.m.–11 p.m.
• Wednesday, May 22—Roosevelt High School from 6 p.m.–11 p.m.
• Monday, May 27—Waipahu High School from 3 p.m.–8 p.m.
• Wednesday, May 29—Moanalua High School from 5:30 p.m.–11 p.m.
• Saturday, June 1—Punahou from 7 p.m.–11 p.m.

For more information on parking for the graduation ceremonies, please visit the Commuter Services website:

UH asks that everyone attending and traveling near the area to plan ahead and be patient as Â鶹´«Ã½ celebrates the accomplishments of our university and high school students.

A rising number of University of Â鶹´«Ã½ students and employees are using the new Skyline rail system and TheBus to escape Oʻahu’s congested roadways. UH riders are taking advantage of exclusive, discounted fares on Honolulu’s integrated public transit system to commute to and from , and .

Leeward CC student Betty C. Hill, who lives in ʻEwa, uses the rail line three times a week in combination with a brief bus ride.

“The quickness of getting from Waipahu to Leeward in like five minutes and the reliability of the rail coming every ten minutes has also made me get to campus earlier, perfect for my 9 a.m. class,” said Hill.

The first phase of Skyline currently takes passengers across nine rail stations between East Kapolei and Hālawa near Aloha Stadium. All Skyline stations, excluding Honouliuli, Hoʻopili, and Hālaulani, have bus stops and connectivity, providing commuters with convenient options.

• Related UH News story: UH campuses prepare for Skyline launch, June 2023

Skyline has been a game changer for Tom Hirsbrunner, a Title IX coordinator at Leeward CC, who hops on at the Keoneʻae station near UH West Oʻahu four to five times a week.

“It is much less stressful riding the rail,” said Hirsbrunner. “Plus, it saves gas, money and vehicle maintenance on my car. Another benefit is the opportunity to exercise by walking to and from the rail station to my final destination.”

Since June 2023, Skyline has transported more than 614,800 riders along its initial 10.75-mile route. UH’s West Oʻahu campus and Leeward CC are conveniently served by two Skyline stations, Keoneʻae and Hālaulani, with Hālaulani registering a daily average of around 200 passengers on weekdays and Keoneʻae exceeding 400 daily riders. While Hālaulani exclusively caters to Leeward CC, Keoneʻae’s diverse ridership includes residents from nearby areas utilizing the 304-stall park-and-ride.

Transit options to-and-from UH campuses

UH West Oʻahu

• Keoneʻae UH West Oʻahu Skyline Station
• TheBus Routes 40, 46, 416, 461, 95, 99, C
• Park-and-ride lot
• UH West Oʻahu parking lot
• Multimodal path (bike, walk, micromobility)

Leeward Community College

• Hālaulani Leeward CC Skyline Station
• Parking lot

Honolulu Community College

• TheBus Route 9, 40, 42, 43, C, 51, 52

UH Mānoa

• TheBus Route A, 4, 6, 13, 18
• Parking lot
• Bicycle lanes
• Biki

Kapiʻolani Community College

• TheBus Route 2, 3, 9, 23, 24, 2L
• Biki

Windward Community College

• TheBus Route 61

Discounted fare for students

Skyline fares follow the same structure as and require riders to have an active loaded with funds to board. The cards can be used on the rail and bus. Each first tap will come with transfers, free within the next 2.5 hours.

The university’s U-Pass program offers UH students a pass to ride Skyline or TheBus at a reduced rate. Students with a valid UH identification card can purchase a U-Pass each semester. Depending upon the specific UH campus, the U-Pass fee is already covered by the student activity fee and available at no additional cost.

U-Pass options by campus

More Skyline stations planned

Come 2025, the next phase of Skyline will transport passengers from Makalapa near Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam to Kahauiki which stops at the Kalihi Transit Center on Middle Street. The third segment is scheduled to open in 2031 stretching from Mokauea in Kalihi to Kaʻākaukukui Civic Center station in Kakaʻako.

The University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ Athletic Complex will host more than a dozen ³¾±ð²Ô’s basketball games, four wo³¾±ð²Ô’s basketball games, the state high school football championship and the Rainbow Warriors last home football game of the season from November 20–26.

The Maui Invitational, traditionally hosted at the Lahaina Civic Center, will be played at the Stan Sheriff Center as the civic center continues to serve as a recovery center following the deadly wildfires. Eight college men’s teams will face-off in one of the preeminent college basketball tournaments that runs November 20–22.

It is important to note that there will be NO ONSITE PARKING for fans attending the Maui Invitational games. The parking structure is reserved for UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ students and employees. from several hotels and the Â鶹´«Ã½ Convention Center. Ride-share patrons will also be able to get dropped off and picked up.

• The Zone 20 parking structure will be open ONLY FOR UH STUDENTS, FACULTY AND STAFF. Individuals must show their UH ID or proof of UH affiliation as they approach the parking kiosk.
• Impacted parking areas include the top section of Zone 17 near Dole Street, the makai portion of Zone 18 near the ROTC building, all of Zone 19 and the Commuter Permit moped racks near the law school and law library. Vehicles may be parked in the unaffected sections of the zones or Zone 20.
• Maui Invitational fans will be dropped off/picked up in the area between the law school and law library. Avoid the area if possible or expect heavy foot traffic. Also, students and employees are encouraged to use the Zone 20 stairs or the ʻEwa elevator across from the music department.

Fans attending the UH ³¾±ð²Ô’s November 21 basketball game against Northern Arizona will be able to park at the structure after 6:30 p.m.

On November 24, fans can park at the structure to attend the UH wo³¾±ð²Ô’s basketball tournament. There will be two games starting at noon. Then in the evening the Â鶹´«Ã½ High School Athletic Association will hold its open division state football championship at Clarence T.C. Ching Complex at 7 p.m.

On November 25, the wo³¾±ð²Ô’s basketball tournament will resume. Games will be held at noon and 2:30 p.m. Parking for those games will be limited to upper campus. The Rainbow Warriors’ last home football game against Colorado State will kick off at 6 p.m.

On November 26, the wo³¾±ð²Ô’s basketball tournament will wrap up with games at 2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. The parking structure will be open to all fans.

Approximately 3,100 students moved into University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ student housing facilities during the week of August 14 for the fall 2023 semester with few delays thanks to a new move-in process developed by Student Housing Services (SHS). According to a survey conducted by SHS, 60% of parents said they arrived at the residence halls within 15 minutes of their student receiving their room key and 86% arrived in 30 minutes or less.

The revamped process for new students who moved in on Tuesday, August 15 and Wednesday August 16 included:

• A university welcome fair and check-in at the Stan Sheriff Center for first-year residents
• Additional move-in times that spread out the number of individuals arriving and unloading at any given time
• Improved directional signage and a revised vehicle hang tag system to assist with wayfinding on campus
• Better utilization of parking infrastructure to reduce traffic and congestion on local streets
• Expanded two-way shuttle service for students and their ʻohana from the Zone 20 parking structure to the various residence halls and back
• Additional custodial resources and support to manage the large influx of packaged goods and materials

“After reviewing past feedback and reflecting on how previous move-in days had gone on the UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ campus, we were committed to creating a new and improved process to make the experience more welcoming, seamless and stress-free for incoming students and their families,” said Interim Director of Student Housing Services David Akana. “This could not have been possible without the support of a number of key university departments, who dedicated time and resources to help make this new process a reality.”

Parents pleased with smoother move-in

The efforts to revamp the move-in day processes did not go unnoticed.

“Mahalo nui loa UH,” said Wendy Paul in a Facebook post. “Our move-in was fantastic and everyone was patient and exuding the aloha spirit. Very impressed and our daughter already feels like she is home.”

Another parent who experienced move-in with their daughter during fall 2020 and fall 2021 anonymously shared that this year’s move-in improved significantly from previous move-ins.

“The process was smooth, people were helpful, being in a cool area helped lessen the frustration and emotions of everyone around us, the shuttle was great… and many volunteers were quick to help unload,” wrote the parent in a feedback form. “We were quickly in and out of the parking area, making space for those that came after us. Thank you for listening to our past feedback and making improvements.”

Welcoming new students to UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹

During move-in, incoming students, including hundreds of enthusiastic freshmen, flocked to the Stan Sheriff Center to check-in, connect with a variety of university resources at the welcome fair, receive their student housing information and settle into their housing units with their fellow peers before beginning their journeys as Rainbow Warriors and Wahine.

“This experience is totally new and exciting to me,” said Isabelle Barcial, one of the many excited freshmen moving into the residence halls. “I was not expecting to really move in [since I’m from Oʻahu], but I’m happy to make new friends, explore new opportunities and be able to express myself more.”

Another freshman, Taelor Ferreir, echoed the same sentiment.

“This is a new chapter in my life,” said Ferreir. “It’s definitely a step up from high school, especially since I’ll be able to live on my own and be more independent.”

For many out-of-state students, UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ presents an opportunity to study at a highly ranked university and research their interests in a place completely different from home.

“I’m from Massachusetts, and I was looking to study marine biology on the west coast, and I discovered UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ and its great program and thought, ‘Say less!’” said incoming freshman Hugo Bundy. “I’ve been looking forward to moving in for a while and I’m so excited to settle in and get ready for the school year.”

The University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ is utilizing the latest technology to improve parking management on campus, especially for large events such as commencement and UH football games. The university can now leverage real-time data to monitor parking availability, accept contactless mobile wallet payments, validate pre-paid parking with mobile point-of-sale devices and accept payment virtually anywhere on campus vs. fixed kiosk locations.

The new system, , was used to manage parking during the UH West Oʻahu and UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ commencement ceremonies and nine high school graduations at the Stan Sheriff Center in spring 2023.

“The additional flexibility and real-time data that these devices provide is invaluable,” said Nick Sakamoto, special events manager of at UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹. “We now have the ability to double and triple up cashiers during peak periods to expedite entry to our facilities and relieve traffic on surface streets.”

The system will be relied upon for 2023 UH football home games, after the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex expansion project from 9,000 to 15,000 seats is completed. The Rainbow Warriors started playing on campus after the unexpected closure of Aloha Stadium in December 2020. Other ParkHub clients include the University of Notre Dame; Louisiana State University; AT&T Stadium in Texas, home of the Dallas Cowboys; and MetLife Stadium, home of the New York Giants and New York Jets.

The technology upgrade is the latest step taken by UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ Commuter Services to improve customer service and make on-campus parking more efficient and convenient for students, employees and visitors. The new system is expected to reduce traffic on city streets during events, generate insight on when event attendees typically arrive and inform staffing requirements for parking operations. Commuter Services is a self-funded unit and receives no state funding or tuition and fees revenue.

More parking initiatives

New flexible and affordable parking options were implemented by Commuter Services in 2023 to better meet the changing needs of the UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ campus and improve parking access, options and affordability. Those options include:

• $4 daily parking pass for students and employees that can be purchased in advance online
• Afternoon parking permits for students and employees that are valid from noon to closing hours
• Upper campus $1 parking permits for visitors after 4 p.m.
• Streamlined administrative processes related to parking operations
• Introduction of a non-expiring for eligible employees
• More convenient pick up process for student semester parking permits
• A text message notification service available to provide parking updates in a timely manner

Commuter Services also deployed a License Plate Recognition vehicle to collect parking data that will be used to maximize and improve access to parking on campus. The advanced data collection tool measures parking turnover and stall utilization by scanning license plates and determining how long and in which parking zones vehicles are observed.

Updated June 18, 2023: The start of the campus shuttle service announced on June 15 has been temporarily delayed. The new start date will be announced soon.

Original story:

A pilot project between the University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ and the (HDOT) will launch the State of Â鶹´«Ã½â€™s first autonomous electric “Min-E Bus” on the ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ campus starting June 2023. This HDOT test project is the first under Â鶹´«Ã½â€™s Autonomous Vehicle Testing law passed in 2020 and will help the state meet its goal of achieving 100% clean energy by 2045 as HDOT transitions to electric vehicles.

UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹â€™s College of Engineering is a partner in the project, responsible for collecting and analyzing data for HDOT as it begins to add autonomous and electric vehicles to its fleet.

“This is a milestone for the Department of Transportation and the state,” said HDOT Director Ed Sniffen. “We are doing our part to meet the state’s sustainability goals and make our roads safer. As autonomous vehicles become more widely used, the rate and severity of car accidents is expected to drop, and that will save lives.”

The air-conditioned, 14-passenger, AV Star All-Electric Autonomous Min-E Bus features state-of-art technology Perrone Robotics TONY (To Navigate to You) autonomous system and meets all Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. It is also able to serve passengers in wheelchairs and as a precautionary measure, human drivers will be seated at the wheel and able to take control, if needed.

The HDOT Min-E Bus will provide autonomous shuttle service to UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹â€™s upper and lower campus over the summer in the first phase of the project. Phase 2, expected to begin in the fall, will expand the service to the Kauʻiokahaloa Nui Apartments faculty housing complex near the ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ Marketplace.

“This pilot autonomous shuttle bus project will provide first-hand experience right here in Â鶹´«Ã½ and help us collect invaluable data that will help in our understanding of what the future of transportation and mobility will look like,” said College of Engineering Dean Brennon Morioka. “It will help the state better prepare for the necessary changes in infrastructure as well as policies to accommodate large-scale autonomous vehicle deployments in Â鶹´«Ã½. We are very proud of the role that UH’s College of Engineering is playing in this initiative that HDOT is leading.”

Professor Guohui Zhang added, “This project will provide our students with an invaluable research opportunity to use what they have learned in the classroom to serve our state and community. In addition to better understanding the innovative, state-of-the-art autonomous driving technologies, we will emphasize vehicle-infrastructure interoperability and community-wide travel connectivity in this project. Our students will use this autonomous bus platform to advance their research horizons in Artificial Intelligence (AI)-empowered traffic mobility and safety enhancement, as well as traffic digital twin modeling and formulation.”

The project is a natural fit with UH, which has set a goal for the 10-campus system of zero carbon emissions by 2035. Compared to a comparable gas-powered passenger vehicle, the HDOT Min-E Bus is estimated to save more than 660 gallons of gas per year ($3,133 savings/year if cost of fuel is $4.60/gallon) and decrease carbon dioxide by 13,021 pounds/year.

Autonomous shuttle information

The autonomous shuttle is for UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ students, faculty, staff and affiliates. The Phase 1 route for the HDOT Min-E Bus will run every 30 minutes from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. starting from the KamakakÅ«okalani Center for Hawaiian Studies. The route with 11 stops will take it through student housing, down East West Road and Maile Way, to the Queen Liliʻuokalani Center for Student Services (QLC), and back to the KamakakÅ«okalani Center.

There are 11 stops along the route in the following order:

• KamakakÅ«okalani Center
• Frear Hall
• Hale Noelani
• Hale Wainani
• Burns Hall
• Jefferson Hall
• St. John
• Varney Circle
• Paradise Palms
• Kennedy Theatre
• Gateway House on Dole Street

The route for a second phase is planned to run from the UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ campus to the Kauʻiokahaloa Nui Apartments faculty housing located near the ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ Marketplace.

Other UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ units involved in the UH phases of the project include Commuter Services, Student Housing Services and Campus Operations and Facilities and the Office of Risk Management.

The University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ has deployed a License Plate Recognition (LPR) vehicle to collect parking data that will be used to maximize and improve access to parking on campus. LPR is an advanced data collection tool that measures parking turnover and stall utilization by scanning license plates and determining how long and in which parking zones vehicles are observed. The LPR is the latest initiative by to improve on-campus parking.

• Related UH News story: UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ parking updates include new flexible options, November 7, 2022

Similar to the , data collected by the LPR vehicle will provide insight into utilization patterns of various zones on campus. These results will be cross-referenced with course schedules and used by campus planners to develop data-driven strategies to optimize the commuter experience on and around campus—particularly in areas where there is significant demand for parking.

The data will also be utilized to coordinate with local partners, such as the city and county bus system, to explore alternative transportation options, such as the expansion of express routes or the relocation of bus stops that may help mitigate peak parking demand.

“This is an exciting time for Commuter Services as we look to modernize our approach by utilizing data to provide a better on-campus parking experience for our customers,” said Cate Matsushima, the UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ commuter and fleet services manager. “Our goal is to provide the best service possible to our students and employees which is why we have initiated so many changes lately, and there is more to come.”

Community cooperation needed

The impact to commuters will be minimal and everyone currently parking on campus are requested to do the following:

1. Park with a license plate facing out toward the street or parking lot. If your vehicle only has a rear plate, pull into the parking stall nose-in (rather than backing in) so that your license plate is visible to the LPR vehicle from the street or parking lot.
2. Update your vehicle information on your . Drivers are encouraged to delete old vehicles and ensure that existing vehicles are connected to a current permit (if applicable). Refer to the following for instructions on:

“LPR gives insight into the usage of parking by our University drivers, providing an opportunity to better address their needs,” said Tony Hall, Commuter Services technology analyst. “Community cooperation will aid our goal of optimizing UH’s limited parking supply.”

More information on the LPR project can be found on the Commuter Services’

Other parking initiatives

New flexible and affordable parking options were implemented in 2023 including:

• $4 daily parking pass for students and employees that can be purchased in advance online;
• Afternoon parking permits for students and employees that are valid from noon to closing hours;
• Upper campus $1 parking permits for visitors after 4 p.m.;
• Improved parking processes;
• Introduction of a non-expiring ;
• More convenient pick up process for student semester parking permits.

The Commuter Services website was overhauled and is more user-friendly. It now features a text message notification service available to provide parking updates in a timely manner.