CELEBRATING CUSTOMER STORIES: HONOLULU, HAWAII

DRIVEN BY THE
SPIRIT OF ALOHA

From million-mile buses to zero-emission breakthroughs: how GILLIG’s decades-long partnership drives O’ahu forward

Before most of the island is awake, TheBus is already in motion.

As dawn breaks over Diamond Head, another GILLIG bus pulls out of the O’ahu Transit Services (OTS) yard and begins a day that will wind from downtown corridors to remote beaches where tourists and locals alike depend on safe, accessible, reliable public transit.

This bus is one of 480 in the OTS fleet, serving more than 100,000 riders per day, about 3.4 million trips each month, on one of the nation’s highest-ridership bus systems per capita. Keeping an island moving at that scale takes more than dependable vehicles. It takes a partnership built to last, guided by the spirit of Aloha.

BUILT FOR THE LONG HAUL

That partnership began forty-two years ago when the first GILLIG Phantom buses arrived on O’ahu. From the earliest days, GILLIG’s American-built buses were designed for the long haul, and they proved it.

“The oldest GILLIGs I’ve retired were about 25 years old,” said Adam Tamayoshi, OTS Vice President of Maintenance. “And we’ve had multiple million-mile GILLIG buses on property, same engine, still performing.”

Longevity like that does not happen by accident. It is the result of dedicated engineering tuned for O’ahu’s demanding reality: salt air that corrodes metal, steep grades that stress engines, and service schedules that push toward 20-hour days with minimal downtime.

GILLIG Phantom arriving on the island of O’ahu in 1983

BEYOND PROCUREMENT

Today, 280 GILLIG buses make up the majority of O’ahu’s heavy-duty transit fleet, operated by OTS for the City and County of Honolulu’s Department of Transportation Services (DTS). The relationship works because it extends well beyond contracts and bid cycles.

“They’re not just here for procurement,” said Jenny Lemaota, Senior Vice President and Deputy General Manager at OTS. “They’re here with our operators and mechanics, working side-by-side.”

Many of the GILLIG people supporting OTS have done so for decades; they know which routes cook A/C units, which climbs test transmissions, and which bay needs parts by Tuesday, no excuses.

“Our team knows they can reach out directly to GILLIG,” Tamayoshi added. “Engineering, Field Service, Manufacturing, Parts, they all go above and beyond.”

CONSISTENCY IS KEY

That consistency shows up where it matters most, on the road and in the shop, because familiarity builds confidence, and confidence shows up in performance.

“No matter what series it is, you’re comfortable getting into a GILLIG,” said Sean Paio, VP of Transportation. “The controls are familiar. The layout makes sense.”

When operators start their shift knowing the cab, service smooths out.  When maintenance teams know GILLIG vehicles, all designed for ease of maintenance, buses turn faster; reliability in the garage becomes reliability in service.

PROVEN UNDER PRESSURE

The partnership earned its proof in the hardest moments, when supply chains stalled but the island still had to move. “During COVID, we needed parts, and GILLIG made it happen,” Tamayoshi recalled.

“It wasn’t just one person;it was Engineering, Field Service, Manufacturing. They worked every angle to get us what we needed.” The deliverable then was not only a component; it was trust reinforced under pressure.”

As Robert Yu, President and General Manager of OTS, put it: “Trust like we have with GILLIG doesn’t happen in a day. It’s built over years, through consistency, communication, and knowing how our organization works.”

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“Trust like we have with GILLIG doesn’t happen in a day. It’s built over years, through consistency, communication, and knowing how our organization works… what keeps you coming back isn’t just the product, it’s knowing that when there’s a challenge, GILLIG will be there to work through it with you.”

Robert Yu, President and General Manager,

O’AHU TRANSIT SERVICES, HONOLULU, HI

ELECTRIFYING THE ISLAND

That same trust underpins O’ahu’s move to zero emissions. In 2020, Honolulu received its first GILLIG Battery Electric Bus, and refused to give it an easy proving ground.

“We ran that bus everywhere,” said Jon Nouchi, Deputy Director of DTS.

“Over the Ko’olau Mountains, west side, east side, North Shore, South Shore, through traffic, on long-distance routes. And it exceeded every expectation.”

Designed for 100 to 170 miles per charge, the BEBs now routinely run up to 200 miles a day across routes that climb from sea level to mountain grades and back again. It is an outcome made possible because DTS, OTS, and GILLIG tuned the details together: duty cycles, charging windows, operator training.

With 17 BEBs in service and 78 more under contract, Honolulu is on a clear path to a fully electrified fleet by 2035.

GILLIG & OTS & DTS Leadership together for BEB event, July 2025

DRIVING O’AHU FORWARD

Through technology shifts, ridership swings, and a once-in-a-century disruption, the goal has not changed: OTS and DTS exist to provide safe, dependable, reliable transportation, guided by the spirit of Aloha. GILLIG’s role is to make that work easier to deliver, day after day.

“What keeps you coming back isn’t just the product,” Yu said. “It’s knowing that when there’s a challenge, they’ll be there to work through it with you.”

Partnership, in practice, looks like heavy-duty buses that last; parts that arrive when they’re needed; bus operators stepping into a vehicle they already trust; and a zero-emission fleet proving itself on the hardest routes first. It is not a slogan or a sunrise scene.

It is the daily discipline of showing up, with OTS and DTS setting the standard for public transit service on O’ahu, and GILLIG alongside in engineering, support, and a four-decade commitment to driving the island forward.

PARTNERSHIP PHILOSOPHY

YOUR SUCCESS
IS OUR SUCCESS

At GILLIG, we believe true partnership is the foundation for long-term success. Your goals drive us forward, and together, we’re shaping the future of transit in America. We’re committed to a collaborative approach built on trust, respect, and open communication—ensuring we exceed expectations at every turn.

When you choose GILLIG, you’re choosing a partner who is with you for the long haul, dedicated to supporting your vision and helping you thrive. Let’s build the future of American transit together, one mile at a time.