"Now bus service will be available every hour on the hour on these routes, which will make it really convenient for people," Janine Rapozo, Kaua'i County's acting director of the Offices of Community Assistance said in a news release.

Another change that's forthcoming is the expansion of the Kapahi, route 60, and Lihu'e, route 70, shuttles. These routes had been offered only on Saturdays. Starting today they will be available Monday through Saturday.

"We're also going to establish hubs at the Kapa'a Ball Park Pavilion, Lihu'e Big Save and the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center, where transfers can be made with minimal waiting time," Rapozo said.

New bus stops will also be added including the Vidinha Stadium, Kaua'i War Memorial Convention Hall, and the Kilauea Neighborhood Center.

To streamline eastside routes, the Kojima Store bus stop will be eliminated and replaced by a stop at the Kapa'a Neighborhood Center parking lot.

"One of the main objectives in coming up with some of these changes was to fully service all of our after-school programs," Rapozo said. "So we added a number of stops to achieve this."

Included on the list of stops available Monday through Friday for participants in after-school programs are the following schools — Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle, Kapa'a Middle and High, Kaua'i High and Waimea Canyon, along with the Hanapepe Neighborhood Center, Waimea Boys & Girls Club, and Waimea Nr.

Coinciding with the expansion of services is the release of new bus schedules that are printed on different colored paper based on bus routes: