State officials must be careful as they lay out plans to relocate those displaced by the closure of Ala Moana Beach Park. They shouldn't lose sight of the long-term goal — to quickly move people into permanent housing.

Besides identifying possible temporary sites for the homeless, the state must devise a solution that will do more than just "warehouse" people, but one that actually helps them transition to a real home.

Three potential sites — Sand Island Beach Park, a vacant lot on the 'ewa side of Mother Waldron Park in Kaka'ako and a piece of land fronting Mayor Wright Housing on Liliha Street — have been identified as relocation areas and represent a good start.

Of the three, the latter two sites are preferable because they are in-town, close to jobs and public transportation.

Sand Island may sound enticing to some, and even has support from 'Ohana 'O Hawai'i, the homeless advocacy group formed among those displaced by the Ala Moana closure. That group likes Sand Island because the beach is out of the way and isolated, keeping the homeless out of the public eye.

But that's exactly the reason not to use Sand Island. Being out of sight often provides false assurances that homelessness is no longer a problem. That simply isn't the case. Without being in public view, the site can also quickly turn into a dumping ground.

To be effective, the state must do more than provide an area with shower and bathroom facilities. It needs to devise a comprehensive plan at one of the close-in urban sites that incorporates aid from existing homeless service providers, like the Waikiki Health Center. These providers already have a knowledge base working with families and individuals and have the expertise to move them closer to the goal of permanent housing.

To date, the Kawaiaha'o Church and Central Union Church and its volunteers have stepped in to feed and house the displaced Ala Moana homeless. But all that is about to end.

Now it's the state's turn.

A close-in site combined with social services would be the best plan of action for both the short and long term.