The Akina Family Story

In 1928, long before Kīhei became a bustling town, Alexander Boniface Akina, a native of Kahoʻolawe, settled in South Maui with a bold vision: to build a future for his family. When his children couldn’t walk the 12 miles to school in Wailuku, he built a creative solution—a makeshift bus called the “banana wagon.” What began as transportation for his children quickly evolved into community school transportation on Maui.

That banana wagon marked the founding of what would grow into a trusted local transportation company—offering taxi and bus services across the island. During World War II, Alexander supported the U.S. government by operating essential taxi routes. His commitment to safe, reliable student transportation laid the foundation for a family legacy that spans nearly a century.

In 1984, leadership passed to Douglas “Butch” Akina, who, with his wife Sandra, reimagined the business for a changing Maui. Responding to a surge in Japanese tourism, they launched Akina Aloha Tours in 1988. But it wasn’t just about following trends—it was about setting them.

After a six-year effort to earn a Public Utilities Commission license, the couple expanded their fleet from vans to luxury motorcoaches, becoming the first in Hawaii to introduce Van Hool coaches. Douglas even traveled to Belgium to inspect the coaches and personally supervised their customization in Florida—ensuring power, performance, and comfort. This bold move reshaped Hawaii’s tour bus industry and formed lasting partnerships.

The Akina commitment has always extended beyond tourism. In 1989, Douglas and Sandra partnered with the Kīhei community to launch the Kīhei Shoppers Shuttle, connecting locals and visitors across South Maui. In 2002, they helped establish the Maui Bus pilot system in partnership with Maui Economic Opportunity and the county.

Douglas’s philosophy was simple: “We don’t need to be the biggest—just the best.” Akina built a reputation for the cleanest, safest, and most dependable transportation fleet on Maui.

Despite success in tourism, Akina never forgot its school bus service origins. Sandra Akina—educator, mother, and bus driver—drove keiki to school each morning, and Douglas picked them up each afternoon. Even after losing a major contract in 1990, the family’s dedication didn’t fade.

In 1997, Akina Bus Service was awarded a contract with Kamehameha Schools, reigniting their school transportation division. Starting with one bus, the fleet has grown to 16, continuing their tradition of safe, family-centered student transport on Maui.

In 2018, Akina celebrated 90 years of service—making it Maui’s longest-standing family-owned passenger transportation company. That same year, the company rebranded to Akina Tours & Transportation, with a fresh name and a logo featuring a Hawaiian canoe and the pink Lokelani rose, symbolizing heritage, teamwork, and forward movement.

Now under the leadership of Cassie Akina-Ancog, the third generation of the Akina family, the company continues to thrive. With a team of over 45 employees and a growing fleet, Akina Tours & Transportation proudly offers:

• Private Ground Transportation for Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Event programs, including airport transfers, activities, dine-arounds, golf outings, boat charters, and more.
• Custom group tours and excursions
• School bus services for private and public schools
• Youth group and team transportation
• Cultural and educational travel planning

Every journey is powered by local knowledge, personalized service, and the enduring Aloha spirit that has guided Akina for nearly 100 years.

When you choose Akina, you’re not just booking transportation—you’re investing in the local Maui community. We are a proud, locally owned and operated company that works closely with other Maui-based businesses and service providers.
By supporting Akina, you:

• Help sustain local jobs and families
• Contribute to the island’s economic recovery and resilience
• Promote authentic, community-centered experiences

• Safe, friendly, professional, reliable & punctual service
• On-time transportation
• Honest communication and personalized solutions
• Expert logistical coordination