With a lei and a kiss, Manny Russo put a bit of aloha into bus driver Leilani Purcell's day yesterday. Purcell is driving an electric bus through downtown Honolulu. By Craig T. Kojima, Star-Bulletin

"Gotta watch the gas pedal," said TheBus driver Leilani Purcell. "This bus really starts up quick." It's true. The electric bus jerks into life quickly, unlike the old diesel monsters that thought about it for a while before popping into gear. At the unveiling Monday of the electric buses that will run through downtown during lunch hour, TheBus officials rattled passengers. But what do you expect with management types at the wheel?

Within a few blocks, Purcell had the hang of it. Just think of the pedal as an on-off switch, a rheostat that has to be constantly massaged. Her passengers, mostly curious types checking out the new route, settled down for the ride.

The program is a six-month trial - two small electric buses circling downtown Honolulu at 20-minute intervals, free fare. One bus is donated by Hawaiian Electric, the other is funded by businesses that want curbside service, like Maunakea Marketplace, Aloha Tower Marketplace and others. The entire project is expected to cost $56,200, and if it's a success, it may continue.

The idea is to move people with minimal hassle during 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. lunch hours. Phyllis Hefty and Connie Durano were the first passengers on board. "It's good for senior citizens who don't like to walk too far, or can't find parking," said Hefty.

The pair were typical of the passengers the bus attracted - elderly ladies with time on their hands and an itch to shop or lunch downtown. "We're just getting to know the route," said Hefty.

The bus is quiet - the air conditioner and the driver's radio is louder than the engine - and the velour seats are arranged fore 'n' aft instead of port-starboard. It seats 16, stands six. Driver Purcell said it wasn't good on hills.

Manny Russo leaped on board. A retired big-band pitchmaster for Del Courtney, he's a veteran bus passenger. "Let's go around the island!" he yelped. "Got enough juice?"

"My favorite routes are on Bus No. 6, up to Manoa Valley, so peaceful," he said. "This electric bus is smooth! No potholes! It's thrilling, exciting! I can go to restaurants downtown again!"

Russo was so excited, he got off downtown and reboarded on the next circuit with a lei for Purcell.

Phyllis Hefty and Connie Durano get on the bus at South Street to go shopping downtown. The two women think the free bus service is a good idea, especially for the elderly and those who don't drive. By Craig T. Kojima, Star-Bulletin

"Whassamatter?" called Purcell.

"Uh, dunno," said driver Michael Hooper. "Voltage? It just got no go."

It was replaced by a standard gas-burner. In some Third World countries, buses are powered by methane, which is out-gassed by huge bags of chicken manure lashed atop the vehicle. In other words, it could be worse. (How are the chicken-gas powered busses on hills, anyway?)

With a full load, the air conditioner turned warm. Passengers flowed on and off smoothly, however, aided by the free fare.

"It makes a big difference. No more looking around for bus passes, no more counting out change. Just get on, get off, no hassle," said Purcell. The mass-transit ideal.

"Electric buses are a fantastic idea for Oahu. It's such a small island that you could run them every day and recharge every night, and not pollute."

Kate Shigetani generally walks to Chinatown from her Kakaako apartment and then takes the bus back with groceries. "Now I can ride both ways," she said.

Dan Glatzer got on board. "Does this go to Ward Warehouse?" he asked.

"No, but close," said Purcell. "South Street."

"In Seattle and Portland, they have free buses like these, just to discourage downtown driving," said Glatzer. "This would be ideal if it went to Ward Warehouse, too."

More stops? Now there's an idea.

How about one right next to the Star-Bulletin offices?