South Kona bus for disabled students stolen, later recovered by police

A South Kona bus meant to carry students with physical and mental disabilities disappeared from a Hawaii Ocean View Estates yard, leaving a critical school ride tied up in a criminal investigation and putting another strain on families who depend on specialized transportation in Ocean View. Police said the vehicle was a 2024 Ford bus taken from a company yard in the 92-1400 block of Donola Lane, then recovered at a property in the 92-8500 block of Tiki Lane.

The case began in the early morning hours of May 2, when a bus company employee got a remote alert showing one of the company’s vehicles was in operation. Officers responded to Donola Lane and found that an office had been broken into and the bus was gone. Investigators later said surveillance video from inside the bus allegedly showed several people getting into it shortly after 1:30 a.m. and driving recklessly through the subdivision for nearly an hour before stopping around 2:20 a.m.

When police reached the Tiki Lane property, they said four men were there. One fled on foot and three were detained for questioning, later released as the investigation continued. On May 3, police charged Mathew James with second-degree unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle and set his bail at $1,000. Court records show he made an initial appearance in Kona District Court on May 5.

Investigators are still asking for help identifying six additional people they believe were involved, and anonymous tips may qualify for a reward of up to $1,000. Detective Donovan Kohara can be reached at 808-960-3118 or donovan.kohara@hawaiipolice.gov, and tips also can be made through the Hawaii Police Department’s non-emergency line at 808-935-3311 or anonymously through CrimeStoppers at 808-961-8300.

The theft landed in a part of South Kona that has already seen transportation problems flare up. In 2023, Ocean View students were stranded during a bus-service dispute, and officials later said another bus helped ease some of the capacity pressure. In late April, police also posted a separate Ocean View case involving an assault aboard a bus bound for Ocean View in December 2025, underscoring how often buses have become flashpoints in this community.