Alapai Transit Center

Alapai Transit Center is the transfer point for many bus routes and it is also the starting/​ending point for a lot of the express busses.
I remember over 20 years ago I used to stand in line for the 93 Makaha express bus. Back then there were few benches with shelters and couple portable potties for the brave folks to use. Individuals who showed up early for the express bus would claim a spot on the line against the fence by putting one of their personal belongings near the fence. Normally there would be backpacks or plastic bags hanging on the fence to mark the spot of the bus patron. Everyone who stood in line would greet each other and talk story until the 93 Makaha express bus arrives to pick up the passengers.
Fast forward to the present time Alapai Transit Center had a major face lift. I like the new renovations for the public transportation facility. Few of the bus routes have their own designated area for the bus patrons to board the bus. Since I live in the Waianae Coast side of the island I would board either the 40 Makaha Towers bus or the C Makaha country express bus on Alapai Street. I always tend to miss the 93 Makaha express bus since it’s only offered for individuals getting off from work or school. At least with the 40 Makaha Towers I know that bus will be offered to individuals 24 hours a day unless delayed or cancelled do to traffic, construction on the road, or bus break down.
Alapai Transit Center offers plenty of seats for the bus riders. Hopefully no homeless individuals occupy them at night. I do know there is restroom facility for the bus drivers and bus riders. I have not stepped foot into the restroom yet so hopefully the janitors keeps the facility nice and clean for the bus patrons and drivers to use.

Just got off Bus 933 with James. He may have a tough exterior, but he’s got a good heart. Made my trip home enjoyable and safe. Glad I had him as my driver tonight.

This transit center is a hub of activity. Many of the country routes (West Oahu) start out from this center. The facility is kept very clean, lots of seats and they also provide a person directing the buses to the correct stop (3 designated stops).
Well lit, unlike many of the other transit centers. They also keep the riders well informed if for any reason the buses are running behind. Most of the riders are either getting off of work or school, so there isn’t much craziness taking place.
Very organized, you line up in your designed line (according to route number) and board in an efficient manner, no pushing or shoving, thank goodness. Since this is usually the start of the buses route, you are guaranteed a seat on the long traffic filled journey to central or west Oahu.

What can I say, it’s a bus depot. Mainly a place to get on a bus than get off. No perverted joke intended. The buses have a nice shady place to park before they start their run, while passengers wait in the holding area. The holding area has seats that are divided up to discourage people from laying across.
There are 4 areas within the bus depot to get on the bus, depending on what route you are catching. I’ve only used the first holding area and the last holding area, and walked thru the other two holding areas. Homelessness is a problem so it sometimes smell like urine in the middle two holding areas. The last holding area is close to the designated smoking area, so depending on which way the wind is going, you may get hit with smoke. That’s just a warning to you non-​smokers out there.
Depending the time of year, the sun will beam down on you and you may have to wait on the back side of the holding area. I heard some people say the back side is also a bike lane. Again no perverted joke intended. So watch out if you decide to get some shade while waiting for the bus, you don’t want to get hit by a bike. Maybe after the rest of the place is developed, then the sun won’t hit to badly, but we won’t know until that happens.
I do like this place as a bus depot and it doesn’t feel like the other bus depots. I’ll be back, so I can catch my bus

I don’t know what it is with me and birds. I am very kind toward animals, insects, and nature in general, but I make an exception for the birds at Alapai Transit Center.
Since the renovation, I have had no complaints for Alapai Transit Center. The layout is not hard to grasp if you’re a newcomer. Signs are clear and route maps are posted for your convenience. There is ample space for bus on and off loading, plenty of covered seating, and the seats are somewhat bum-​proof. I mean homeless unless your bum is HUGE. if that’s the case, you can take on the city and county for discrimination.
Now for the reason I marked a 2-​star deduction. I don’t exactly understand the nature and behavior of the common bird, but I believe they are smarter and more sinister than they’ve led us to believe. On multiple occasions I have taken out a snack to eat while waiting for my bus and have been swarmed in a flurry of feathers potentially being showered with microscopic mite projectiles! Those of you who are familiar with the center pre-​renovation may remember there always being a large mass of pidgeons and doves hanging by the fence: well, they’re still there. At first they stayed in their claimed territory and I was thrilled to have had peace from this war. However, it was only matter of time before their dominion over Alapai continued… as planned. At first their swarming didn’t bother me too much, but then I noticed an alarming increase in frequency. I would see people at the stop further down feeding the enemy. I didn’t have the courage to step in the way. Finally one day I decided to pick up lunch from Plaza Clubhouse (yum) and would attempt to finish it before I’d reach Alapai. The thought that I was rushing to eat because I didn’t want to be swarmed is ridiculous, but that’s what it was. Well, I had only one bite remaining as I approached my stop which mind you is at the far opposite end of bird domain. As I prepared to throw away my trash I turned to the left to see 30 (not an exaggeration) white and brown objects. Yes, the birds, with wings full spread soaring directly towards me from the old stop on the other side of town. I thought they would at least land in front of me, but when they were about 2 inches from my head, I started swinging my backpack. A woman held her hand over mouth as she watched a fellow rider get attacked. She told me the same thing happened to a man a moment earlier and that he had moved to another area just to avoid them. It’s not just me, I’m not crazy!!! So you see my friends, we must stand together against these «harmless» creatures. The next time you go to Alapai please take a pledge to not «feed the birdies.» You may regret it.

Before they’ve built the new transit center, I’ve always avoided getting off here to transfer from bus to bus but after a detour and having to get off at this stop, I’d prefer to transfer here.
The reason I hadn’t gotten off at this stop before was because it simply confused me. One time I got off because I saw my bus and didn’t realize that it wasn’t accepting passengers yet (the driver was nice enough and let me on). It was at a stop but passengers only got on when it left and got on the main road.
Since this transit center is fairly new (at least to me) I really don’t worry about where I sit. There are also little barriers between seats, I guess to separate riders and it doesn’t make it as awkward if the seats available are the ones between other people. There was only one incident I’ve seen so far where there was food on the ground.
Another aspect I enjoy waiting at this transit center is the lack of birds. Usually there’s bird poop all over the place and everywhere you go there’s birds wandering, trying to get a bit to eat. If this transit keeps the way it is, I won’t have to worry about birds getting in the way.
There is also shading it, so if it were to rain, there is a decent amount of space for people to stand under so they wouldn’t get wet.
In comparison to the old look of this transit, I would say this is an improvement.

Brand new Transit Center is nice with new homeless protected seats (although I bet they will find some way to be comfortable with the partitions). Nice looking landscaping on Kealamakai Street side. I can see a lot of money spent on this project.
When they were building, I thought the wall statement was that the 5 storied parking would be for public use. Now the entrance is still closed and not being used. I don’t think it is decided yet. I am hoping this will be for a public use. I will change my stars depending on their parking use decision.
Tip: it is a center but no public bathroom.
03÷16÷13: Have not used it yet, but the bathrooms are open to public from this date.
Unilocal 365 — ¹⁸⁸⁄₃₆₅

It’s nice but there is a big draw back no public restrooms I hope the passengers complain enough that the City will do something. I feel sorry for those who have to wait.
Also please smokers stand away form area to smoke thank you. I’m giving it a 3 until restrooms are provided.

I LOVE THE NEW TRANSIT CENTER! It’s got more seats with SHADE. I love that the benches have partitions on them so the homeless can’t sleep on them anymore. Its cleaner and much more efficient than the old one. The shelters are huge so we now no longer have to stand in the sun.
At the old transit center, people would hang their stuff on the fences to «hold» their place in line. So for alapai transit center newbies who weren’t aware of this method of «queueing», they’d get barked at by old timers who had their «spot» in line first. Honestly, how is one to know there even WAS a line when the entire time everyone is waiting for the bus there was NO line of people at the fence to begin with.
This new transit center has NO fence for those grumps to hang their crap on. So, it’s HELLA entertaining to watch them fight for the door when the bus arrives. Seriously people, this is the FIRST stop. Seats are aplenty.
The only con is that the loading area is further back than the old one so you need to adjust your timing if you’re like me and like to get there right before the bus comes. You gotta hustle just a little bit further to get to your stop. But this center is much more beautiful and organized than the old one.