KAPOLEI — Sunburned bus riders got some much-needed relief when the Department of Transportation Services recently put in five bus shelters at the temporary Kapolei Transit Center on Haumea Street.

The well-sheltered former transit center at the end of Wakea Street was shut down permanently in April by the city to make way for the upcoming H-1 Freeway interchange, and the area's central bus station got moved over two blocks into what is an undeveloped and, until recently, unshaded part of town.

All the buses that travel through Kapolei — essentially nine different routes — made the switch.

Passengers and Makakilo/Kapolei/Honokai Hale Neighborhood Board members have complained about the new site's conditions.

Rider Bert Bustamante, 50, of Lualualei, said the new stops have been hot and the area lacks crosswalks for people who have to rush across the street to transfer buses.

"It's hot. And over here's kind of dangerous," Bustamante said. "It's an open road and a lot of people have to cross and there aren't any crosswalks."

Evelyn Souza, a neighborhood board member, said she worries for her children who use the bus stop, noting that the area is remote and dimly lit at night. Souza and other riders have noted that one side of the street is in front of undeveloped lots with thick vegetation.

Kapolei police Maj. Michael Moses, however, said that if anything, officers have encountered fewer problems and complaints since the station's relocation.

Because the old station was mostly covered and at a point between the movie theater and Kapolei Shopping Center, "kids would congregate there" after dark, Moses said.

He noted that officers patrol the new site regularly.

Not all passengers think the old transit station was better. Kalaeloa resident Lisa Moreno, 39, said she likes the open space at the new site although she wishes the city would improve upon the two nonflush porta-potties.

"It's more spacey and there are no kids hanging around it," Moreno said.

James Burke, the city's Public Transit Division chief, said about $11,000 is being spent on the temporary transit center. Besides the shelters, the city is in the process of purchasing two "flush-type" portable restrooms to replace the two porta-potties.

Burke also stressed that the arrangement is temporary.

Last week, the city announced it is receiving early from the Kapolei Property Development Co. the contribution of a 5.2-acre parcel several blocks makai of the Haumea site for a permanent transit center that will accommodate riders of both TheBus and mass transit.

No timetable has been given for construction at the triangular lot, which is bordered by the upcoming Kapolei Parkway extension, and Kama'aha and Ulu'ohia streets.

Reach Gordon Y.K. Pang at gpang@honoluluadvertiser.com.