HOLO card

HOLO card
A standard Adult fare HOLO card
LocationIsland of Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi
LaunchedJuly 1, 2021[note 1]
Technology
OperatorINIT
ManagerCity and County of Honolulu
CurrencyUSD ($0[5] minimum load, $200 maximum load)
Credit expiryNone[6]
Auto rechargeYes
Validity
Variants
  • Adult
  • Youth
  • Senior
  • Medicare
  • Reduced Fare
  • Disability
  • Handi-Van
Websitewww.holocard.net

The HOLO card is a contactless smart card used to pay for public transit fares on the island of Oʻahu in Hawaiʻi. The card is used to hold cash value or passes for use on TheBus and the Skyline rail system.[3][4] The card is used by tapping it on a reader terminal when boarding TheBus or at a Skyline faregate. Cards can be loaded online at the HOLO card's website, over the phone, or in person at various retail locations.[7]

Holo is a Hawaiian word that means to "ride," "go," or "flow."[8][9][10] Reduplicated, holoholo means "to go out for pleasure."[11]

Background

The HOLO card was created by the City and County of Honolulu as a way to allow seamless transfers between TheBus and Skyline. Prior to the introduction of the card, TheBus users either paid cash fares or purchased paper passes.[12] INIT was contracted in 2016 to develop, manage, and operate the HOLO card system.[8][12][13]

The card was initially released to the public on a pilot basis in December 2018.[3] Paper day, monthly, and yearly passes were phased out beginning in April 2021,[4][14] and were completely discontinued by July 1, 2021.[1][2] All cards were issued for free prior to March 1, 2022. There is a $2 fee for new and replacement cards to promote the reuse of cards, with selected discounted fare categories exempted from the fee for new cards.[15][16][17]

Usage

The HOLO card uses a fare-capping system, similar to the Hop Fastpass card used in Portland, Oregon, where users are not charged for additional fares after paying an amount equal to the cost of a day pass over the course of a single day, or after paying an amount equal to the cost of a monthly pass over a single month.[8][14][18] The card also includes a transfer function where users who board multiple buses or trains within a 2+1⁄2 hour window are not charged an additional fare regardless of whether or not they have reached a daily or monthly cap amount.[18] Paying cash fares does not allow for transfers.

The card is used by first being loaded with cash value or a pass, then by tapping the card on a card reader when boarding a bus or passing through a rail station's fare gate.[7][8][9] Users have the option of creating an account to allow the card to be registered to an individual and reloaded via the HOLO card's website. Registering a card also allows any cash value or passes loaded on the card to be replaced if the card is lost or stolen, and for the card to be remotely disabled at any time.[7]

Use of the card may be extended in the future to include Biki, Honolulu's bikeshare system, paying for admission to City-operated facilities such as the Honolulu Zoo and Hanauma Bay,[9] and municipal parking.[19]

Design

The standard HOLO design features a blue and white background with a geometric pattern, reminiscent of motifs seen on aloha shirts worn by TheBus operators. The fare type is printed on the bottom in capital letters, stylized in the Knockout typeface. The adult card features a blue stripe at the bottom while youth cards feature a navy stripe. Other fare types are printed vertically; senior and disability feature an orange-red stripe, reduced fare (low income) cards a red one, Medicare cards gray-blue, and Handi-Van cards green.

Three commemorative designs were released in June 2023 in partnership with Zippy's to celebrate the opening of Skyline. The limited-edition cards featured background patterns resembling the manu-o-Kū and were initially available at four restaurant locations along phase 1 of the rail line.[20][21] Further commemorative designs have since been released, such as for Christmas[22] and the Great Aloha Run.[23]

Notes

  1. ^ Date paper passes were discontinued;[1][2] initial public availability in December 2018,[3] full phase-in began April 2021.[4]

References

  1. ^ a b Mizuo, Ashley (June 20, 2021). "TheBus to stop using paper passes, sees steady increase in Oahu ridership". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. p. B2. ProQuest 2542992848. Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved June 30, 2021.
  2. ^ a b Boneza, Jenn (July 1, 2021). "HOLO card faces backlash during program's inaugural day on Oahu". KHON2. Archived from the original on August 5, 2021. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c "TheBus rolls out new holo card program". Hawaii News Now. December 5, 2018. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  4. ^ a b c "TheBus saying 'goodbye' to paper passes, plans HOLO smart card". Mass Transit. April 5, 2021. Archived from the original on June 25, 2021. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  5. ^ @hnl.transit; (October 17, 2025). "HOLO cards purchased at Skyline Ticket Vending Machines require a minimum fare of $1.25 initial load. All other retail locations do not have a minimum fare requirement at time of purchase" – via Instagram.
  6. ^ "Terms and Conditions". holocard.net. Archived from the original on November 14, 2025. Retrieved October 17, 2025.
  7. ^ a b c "Frequently Asked Questions". HOLOcard.net. Archived from the original on April 22, 2022. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  8. ^ a b c d Honore, Marcel (March 27, 2018). "Honolulu Is Finally Catching Up With New Smart-Card System". Honolulu Civil Beat. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  9. ^ a b c Wu, Nina (March 28, 2018). "Holo card will be used to pay fares for TheBus, TheHandi-Van and, eventually, rail". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. ProQuest 2019297468. Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved June 30, 2021.
  10. ^ Mary Kawena Pukui; Samuel Hoyt Elbert (2003). "lookup of holo". in Hawaiian Dictionary. Ulukau, the Hawaiian Electronic Library, University of Hawaiʻi Press. Retrieved September 8, 2025.
  11. ^ Mary Kawena Pukui; Samuel Hoyt Elbert (2003). "lookup of holoholo". in Hawaiian Dictionary. Ulukau, the Hawaiian Electronic Library, University of Hawaiʻi Press. Retrieved September 8, 2025.
  12. ^ a b Honore, Marcel (March 23, 2016). "Firm hired to set up and run smart-card system for transit". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. ProQuest 1775307962. Archived from the original on July 31, 2022. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  13. ^ "Honolulu Taps INIT for Smart Card, Mobile Ticket System". Mass Transit. April 26, 2016. Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  14. ^ a b "Replacing paper passes, HOLO cards are the new way to pay on the bus". Hawaii News Now. April 1, 2021. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  15. ^ Hixon, David (February 11, 2022). "New fee for TheBus HOLO cards aims at encouraging re-use". KITV. Archived from the original on March 10, 2022. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  16. ^ Dela Cruz, Linda (February 11, 2022). "City charges $2 for new HOLO cards". KHON2. Archived from the original on March 1, 2022. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  17. ^ City and County of Honolulu (February 11, 2022). "$2 fee to obtain new HOLO cards starting March 1st" (Press release). Archived from the original on March 1, 2022. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  18. ^ a b City and County of Honolulu (June 17, 2021). "HOLO cards to replace paper passes for TheBus starting July 1, 2021" (Press release). Archived from the original on June 29, 2021. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  19. ^ Perrero, Megan (September 22, 2021). "A 21st Century Approach to Fare Collection". Mass Transit. Archived from the original on October 25, 2021. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
  20. ^ "City to announce Honolulu rail's official name". YouTube. June 16, 2013.
  21. ^ "#RideTheSky and get your hands on a FREE limited edition commemorative Holo Card and the new Skyline Pac at Zippy's!". @zippys. June 25, 2023. Archived from the original on June 27, 2023. Retrieved June 26, 2023 – via Instagram.
  22. ^ Spangler, Sam (December 18, 2024). "Honolulu offering deals for the HOLO Days". KHON2. Archived from the original on January 2, 2025. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  23. ^ "City announces extended operation hours for Skyline as runners lace up for Great Aloha Run". Hawaii News Now. February 15, 2024. Archived from the original on January 2, 2025. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
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