Council honors Oahu Transit Services team for second-place finish at APTA Bus Rodeo

Council Members Okimoto and Leon Cordero presented an honorary certificate to Oahu Transit Services operators and maintenance staff after the team earned second place overall at the American Public Transportation Association’s 2025 International Bus Rodeo.

The council identified bus operator Douglas Rego as placing second among 75 participants in the operator competition and named maintenance team members Keith Yanagi, Leon Cordero and Alexander (Kekoa) Kim as part of the team that competed against other maintenance teams and won the Cummins-powered powertrain maintenance event. Council remarks said the OTS combined team’s result—second overall in the international competition held in Austin, Texas April 2–9, 2025—was the system’s best showing since 2017.

City officials in the chamber introduced staff who supported the team’s participation, including Sean Pio (vice president for transportation), Vera Vieira (superintendent, transportation), Nathan Costa (superintendent of shops), Tyler Freitas (assistant superintendent of shops) and Richard Taguchi (project manager and maintenance rodeo coach). The presentation praised the team’s skill in operator maneuvers and maintenance events; the transcript records the honorary certificate but does not show any budget appropriation or council ordinance connected to the recognition.