PLEASE NOTE: All HOLO Card sales are final, including any stored value or pass.

1. What is my fare?

To determine your fare for riding, Oahu's public transit, visit TheBus.org. Fares are the same for both TheBus and Skyline.

2. What is stored value?

Stored value is the money that you load onto your HOLO card. This money is stored in your online account so you can use it to pay for your fares on TheBus or Skyline.

Your HOLO card will also store any valid passes that you've purchased.

When you tap your HOLO card on a HOLO card reader, we'll first check your account to see if you have a valid pass. If you don't have a valid pass, we'll check to see if you have enough stored value to pay for your ride.

3. Are there fees or service charges?

New and replacement HOLO cards cost $2. If you have a Senior or Disability HOLO Card, you get the first new card for free. There is also a $3 minimum when loading or reloading a card.

4. Are there still programs for distributing free or reduced fares?

The current programs for senior, disability, TheHandi-Van, U.S. Medicare and bus pass subsidy programs are still in place for individuals who qualify for the programs. To determine your fare, please visit TheBus.org.

5. What happens to my HOLO Card when my reduced fare eligibility expires?

If you have a Disability or Youth HOLO Card, your card will revert to an Adult HOLO Card when your eligibility expires. If you believe you still qualify for these reduced fare programs, please go to the Transit Pass Office to renew your eligibility.

1. I am just visiting. Do I need a HOLO Card?

Aloha! No matter how long you're staying, a HOLO Card can help you get around Oahu. We would suggest getting an Adult HOLO Card at an ABC Store in Waikiki. These cards are pre-loaded with a day pass to make it easy for you to try out TheBus or Skyline. After you use your day pass, you can reload your Adult HOLO Card online or at other participating retailers. (Please note that ABC Stores exclusively sell the Adult HOLO Card with a day pass and do not reload cards.)

2. Where can I get a HOLO card? Can I get one mailed to me?

Adult HOLO cards are available at local participating retail stores and all Skyline stations.

You can also order an Adult HOLO card by logging into your HOLOcard.net account. Your order will be mailed to you; delivery may take up to 10 business days. If your card includes a month pass and was ordered after the 19th, your pass will be valid for the following month.

Senior, Youth, Disabled, and Medicare cards are available at the Transit Pass Office. Satellite City Halls can also issue Senior, Youth and Adult cards. View retail store and Satellite City Hall locations.

3. How much does the HOLO card cost?

New and replacement HOLO cards cost $2. If you have a Senior or Disability HOLO Card, you get the first new card for free.

4. Do you still accept cash?

You can still use cash to buy a one-way ride onboard TheBus. You can also reload your HOLO card using cash at any of the retail locations listed on our website, the Transit Pass Office at Kalihi Transit Center, and at HOLO vending machines located at Skyline stations.

5. How do I add money or a pass on my card?

There are four ways to add money on your HOLO card:

  • At HOLOcard.net
  • By calling 1-808-768-HOLO (4656)
  • At most of the stores in our retail network (most stores only accept cash)
  • At the Transit Pass Office at Kalihi Transit Center
  • At HOLO vending machines located at Skyline stations

You can load a pass onto your card at many participating retailers, the Transit Pass Office at Kalihi Transit Center, and Skyline stations. You can also log into your HOLOcard.net account and set up autoload, which automatically loads a pass or stored value onto your HOLO card. For month passes, autoload occurs 1-3 days before the 1st of the month.

1. What is fare capping?

If you don’t have the money to purchase a pass up-front or don’t know how often you will ride, fare capping is the best option for you. Simply ride, and the money you spend on fare will go toward earning a day or month pass. Once you spend the amount needed to earn the pass, you'll get to ride for free for the rest of the day or month.

With fare capping, you don't need to guess the amount of trips you'll make in a given period of time. This saves you money on passes you may not need while ensuring you always get a pass if you're riding frequently.

2. How do I earn a day or month pass?

All you have to do is ride. Every time you pay for your fare, your money goes toward a pass.

You'll earn a day pass after paying for 2.5 rides in one day. The validity period for the day pass is from 3 AM on the first day until 2:59 AM on the second. For more information, view How to Earn a Day Pass.

You can earn a month pass from the first to the end of the month. For example, if an adult rider uses $7.50 of fare on their HOLO Card each day, by the 11th day they will have spent $80 (the cost of an Adult monthly pass). Now they will ride for free for the rest of the month. For more information, view How to Earn a Month Pass.

An annual pass cannot be earned with fare capping. However, you can buy an annual pass upfront from a participating HOLO retailer, which is valid for 12 months from the date of purchase.

3. If I'm only a few dollars or cents away from earning a pass, will I need to pay full fare for my next ride? 

No, you will only pay up to the amount of the pass. For instance, if an adult rider uses $75 of fare on their HOLO Card in a month, their next ride will only cost $5 to reach the Adult month pass price of $80. Once they reach $80, they ride the rest of the month for free.

4. Do I have to register my card in order to earn a pass? 

No, you don't have to register your card to earn a day or month pass. The money you spend on rides will still go toward a pass.

But if your card is lost or stolen, all your ride history will be lost, too. You'll have to start earning a new pass and any stored value on your old card will be gone.

Avoid these issues by creating an account and registering your card.

5. Can I still buy a month pass?

Yes, you can buy a month pass to add onto your HOLO card at participating retailers, the Transit Pass Office at Kalihi Transit Center, HOLO vending machines at Skyline stations or online at HOLOcard.net.

6. When should I buy a month pass?

If you need a pass for the current month, you must purchase it from the 1st to the 19th of the month. If you need a pass for the next month, you must purchase it on or after the 20th of the current month. For example, if you purchase a month pass on June 15th, the pass will be valid for the rest of June. But if you purchase a month pass on June 20th, the pass will be valid for all of July.

7. Is there a way to automatically reload a month pass or stored value onto my HOLO card?

Yes, you can set up autoload by logging in to your HOLO account.

To activate autoload for a month pass, simply add the pass to your HOLO card using a credit card and select the autoload option. New month passes will automatically load onto your card 3 days before the end of the current month. So, if you need to pause or cancel, be sure to do so before autoload occurs.

For stored value, you can set up autoload to add money to your HOLO card whenever your balance is low. First, decide what low dollar amount should trigger autoload. Then decide the amount of money you want to autoload.

8. I have an active month or annual pass on my HOLO card, but I want to add another month/annual pass to use after my current pass expires. Is that possible? 

No, you cannot add another month or annual pass onto your card for later use.

A month pass is only valid for the calendar month it is purchased in (unless it is purchased 8 days before the end of the month for use next month).

An annual pass is only valid for 12 months from the date of purchase. If you purchase another annual pass before your current one expires, the system will deactivate your current pass and give you a new one, causing you to lose money. To avoid this, be sure to check your online account to see when your annual pass expires. If you're unsure, call the HOLO Helpline to verify.

1. How does my HOLO Card work?

Your HOLO card has a chip in it that allows a specific radio frequency to read it at a card reader. The card reader then sends a signal to a back office to confirm the card has a valid account associated with it. The account holds either a pass or value that you can use to ride transit. Every time you tap your card a signal is sent to the HOLO card back office to confirm that your account is good to go.

2. Do I tap every time I enter and exit?

When entering:

  1. Always tap your HOLO card at the card reader when entering TheBus or going through the fare gates at a Skyline station – your tap is proof of payment.
  2. Wait to see the shaka sign or listen for the ukulele tone. This will indicate your fare is paid.

If you accidentally tap twice, don't worry: Your card cannot be charged twice at the same card reader withing a two-minute timeframe. This ensures you are not double charged and can only pay for one fare with one card. The card reader will say "Payment already received," which means your card has already been read and you can enter.

When exiting:

  • If you're getting off a bus, you do NOT have to tap your card.
  • If you're leaving a Skyline station, you DO have to tap your card to get through the fare gates.

3. Do I have to get a HOLO Card?

You can still use cash onboard TheBus and Handi-Van, but you will need a HOLO card to ride Skyline. Your HOLO card also lets you save money by earning a day pass as you ride and never paying more than you have to.

4. Will HOLO remind me when my balance is getting low?

If your HOLO balance is low, you’ll see a yellow warning in the top left corner of the validator after tapping.

5. How can I get a HOLO Card?

Please go here for retail locations to get an Adult HOLO Card. For Seniors (over 65), youth (aged 6-18), qualifying disabled and Medicare users, please visit the Transit Pass Office at Kalihi Transit Center with valid ID (and valid documents for Medicare and disabled) to get a card. You can also get a Senior, Youth, or Adult HOLO Card at Satellite City Halls.

6. Do HOLO Cards have an expiration?

The physical cards do not expire and should last a minimum of 5 years, provided you do not punch a hole in them or damage them.

7. Can my HOLO Card be placed in my wallet?

Please tap your HOLO card at the reader. If you have more than one chip card in your wallet or on a lanyard, the reader will look for the first chip it “sees”. This means it will potentially not read your HOLO card if it’s in your wallet.

1. Should I register my HOLO Card?

Yes! This ensures that your money is protected in case your card is lost or stolen. Simply create an account and register your card using the number on the back.

Registering your card lets you:

  • Protect your card against loss or theft. You can transfer the following from your old card to a new card:
    • Stored value (login to your account to transfer)
    • A pass (call the HOLO Helpline at 808-768-4656 to transfer)
    • Ride history, which is used to earn passes through fare capping (call the HOLO Helpline at 808-768-4656 to transfer)
  • Reload and purchase passes online.
  • Set-up autoload for monthly passes or stored value.
  • Easily manage multiple cards for your family or group.

2. Is my financial information secure?

Yes. Your personal data and bank information is in a secure database and not on the card itself. The HOLO database does not store credit card numbers, only tokens and the last four digits of the credit or debit card number for your reference.

3. What personal information does HOLO collect?

If you choose to register your HOLO card, we ask for your first and last name and your email address. We use your anonymous travel data (viewed in aggregate with other riders’ trips) to look at broad ridership trends and help us improve our service. With your permission, we use your transaction data to help you when you contact us with a question about your account.

4. Do I need a smartphone or internet to use HOLO?

No, you don’t need the HOLO website to use HOLO. You can also reload your HOLO card at most participating retailers, the Transit Pass Office at Kalihi Transit Center, Skyline stations, and by calling 808-768-HOLO Monday to Friday from 7:30 am to 4:00 pm.

5. Do I need a bank account for HOLO?

No, you don’t need a bank account to use HOLO. You can buy and reload cards using cash at most participating retailers, the TheBus Customer Service Center, and at HOLO vending machines at Skyline stations.

6. Can I pay for more than one riders’ fare with my card?

No. Everyone age 6 and up in your group or family needs their own HOLO card to pay a fare. However, you can easily manage multiple cards and their funds through one HOLO account at HOLOcard.net.

7. Can I pay with my phone?

Not yet, but we hope to bring this option to you in the future. You can load value to your HOLO card with your phone by accessing your account at HOLOcard.net.

8. How do I load money or a pass on my card?

There are four ways to load money on your HOLO card:

  • At HOLOcard.net
  • By calling 1-808-768-HOLO (4656)
  • At most of the stores in our retail network (most stores only accept cash)
  • At the Transit Pass Office at Kalihi Transit Center
  • At HOLO vending machines located at Skyline stations

You can load a pass onto your card at many participating retailers, the Transit Pass Office at Kalihi Transit Center, and Skyline stations. You can also log into your HOLOcard.net account and set up autoload, which automatically loads a pass or stored value onto your HOLO card. For month passes, autoload occurs 1-3 days before the 1st of the month.

9. Is there a minimum load amount?

There is a $3 minimum when loading money on your HOLO card.

10. How do I check my card balance or the time remaining on my pass?

You can check your HOLO card balance or pass on at HOLOcard.net, or by phone at 1-808-768-HOLO (4656).

11. Can I set up my HOLO card to automatically add money when my balance is low?

Yes! When you register your card online, you can activate autoload, which puts money on your HOLO card whenever your balance is low. You can set the low dollar amount that triggers a reload, as well as the amount that is reloaded.

12. Can I transfer balance between cards?

Yes! You can transfer funds between cards within your account or just give us a call at 1-808-768-HOLO (4656).

1. Where can I get customer service in person?

If you’d like to get in-person assistance, you can stop by one of our offices:

  • Transit Pass Office, Kalihi Transit Center, 601 Middle Street, Honolulu, HI is open weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Our HOLO Helpline is available by phone at 1-808-768-HOLO(4656) from 7:30 am to 4 pm Monday to Friday.

2. How do I report my card lost or stolen?

If you have a registered HOLO card and it’s ever lost or stolen, let us know immediately by logging in to your account and choosing “Report Lost or Stolen” on HOLOcard.net, or give us a call at 1-808-768-HOLO(4656). The balance of a registered card is protected if it is lost or stolen. Once you have reported your card lost or stolen, the previous card will be deactivated and your balance can be transferred to a new card.

3. How do I get my money back after my card was lost or stolen?

If your card is registered, we can transfer your money or pass to a replacement HOLO card:

  1. Pick up a card at a participating retailer or the Transit Pass Office at Kalihi Transit Center
  2. Give us a call at 1-808-768-HOLO (4656) or go to HOLOcard.net to transfer your funds

4. How do I transfer my ride history if my card was lost or stolen?

Call the HOLO Helpline at 808-768-4656 to transfer any ride history to a new card.

IMPORTANT: You can only transfer ride history, which is used to earn passes through fare capping, if you have registered your card to your HOLOcard.net account.

5. Why is my card blocked?

Cards are blocked either by the account holder at their request to a customer service agent at 808-768-4656 (HOLO) or you may block your card yourself at HOLOcard.net.

When a card is blocked, it goes on a "hotlist." This means when it's tapped at a card reader a negative sound is made and a customer does not have the ability to pay for their ride with their HOLO card.

Cards are also blocked by the system if the card was used with insufficient funds. In this case, the card is considered to have gone "negative." When the card has gone "negative" a user has to load to the card to cover the negative amount and add sufficient funds to ride again.

6. How do I unblock my card?

You can unblock your card by calling the HOLO Call Center at 808-768-4656 (HOLO). If your card is blocked because of insufficient value, you can add value at HOLOcard.net or at a local retailer.

7. What happens when I deactivate my card?

Your balance stays on your HOLO account. We just shut off that card temporarily so nobody can use it. You can log in to your account and select “Reactivate Card” to turn it back on. If you get a new card, call us at 1-808-768-4656 (HOLO) and we’ll transfer the balance to your new card.

General Contact
Mailing Address:
HOLO Card Office
625 Middle Street
Honolulu, HI 96819

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