WAI'ANAE — As the state prepares to open its second shelter for homeless people on O'ahu's Leeward Coast, it already is moving forward with more and bigger projects, Gov. Linda Lingle told a crowd of several hundred people here tonight.

"This is just the beginning. We're just getting started," Lingle said.

The state's newest shelter at the Wai'anae Civic Center should begin accepting its first residents by early March, Lingle said in a town meeting at Wai'anae District Park.

After that, the state will look to expand other services, including, health, education and job training, Lingle said. She also said a third shelter for another 200 to 300 people is in the works on 900 acres of Navy land in Ma'ili that is being transferred to the state. That project, which will include transitional housing as well as long-term affordable rental units, could see work begin within a year, she told several homeless people in the audience as well as other concerned community members.

"It's not just about housing. It's about broad solutions now that we finally have our hands around the problem," she said.

Kaulana Park, the governor's point person for addressing a burgeoning homeless problem on the Leeward Coast, said the first phase of the future center would include up to five buildings capable of housing up to 200 people. It also would include a learning center funded by the Kamehameha Schools, he said.

Last night's community meeting was in marked contrast to another, much rowdier one last June in which several people shouted at the governor and at others. Most of those attending last night's meeting said they were there to hear an update on what was being done and to thank the governor for her help.

"I made a lot of noise and really vented at the last meeting," said Wai'anae small business owner Victor Rapoza. "I'm sorry for that. I realize now that of all the policiticans who came and promised us things, the governor is the only one who did what she said and came back to talk to us about it."

Rapoza had one more request for the governor: "Don't forget about us taxpayers who are paying for all these projects."

Lingle said she would look into several new suggestions offered during the session, including one complaint that people with old criminal records are barred from entering public housing.

"We'll see what can be done. There is such a thing as redemption and getting on with your life," Lingle said.

Others in the audience urged Lingle to do more to improve education standards in the Leeward area and reach out to those with mental illness problems.

Laurie Johannsen, a single, working mother who said she was forced to move to Ma'ili Beach two months ago after a divorce, told Lingle that others like her simply cannot afford to find even the most basic housing in a time of rising rents.

"I cut hair all day and I still can't afford a $900 studio apartment," she said. "If you're homeless, you're afraid to get help, especially if you've got kids because someone could come and take them away," she said to a round of audience applause. Lingle promised that Johannsen would be among the first in line for a spot in the new Pai'olu Kalaulu center set to open near the Wai'anae Civic Center next month.

"Thank you," Johannsen said, breaking into tears as her 10-year-old son Dakota sat by her side.

Since last June's meeting here, the state has opened the Onelau'ena transitional shelter in Kalaeloa in October and began construction on the Wai'anae Civic Center shelter.

However, hundreds of homeless people are still living in tents on the beaches and in beach parks as the construction continues and the state worked to find a private operator of the shelter. Last month U.S. Vets Hawaii, a service provider with years of experience, agreed in principle to run the shelter for the state.

In her State of the State address last month, Lingle also proposed $150 million in spending to help the homeless. Part of the money, $50 million, would be deposited into the Rental Housing Trust Fund, $50 million would go into a Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund and another $50 million would be used to repair and renovate public housing projects.

Lingle hopes that the investments, combined with private funds, will result in the development of thousands of new affordable homes for sale and rent.

This money — when leveraged with private funds — can result in the development of thousands of additional affordable rental units as well as for-sale units.

State lawmakers also have introduced several bills at the state Legislature this session that would try to address the state's high cost of housing, and the resulting crush of people who have had to take up residence on city streets and beaches.

One bill under consideration in the state House would exempt proposed residential developments from land-use, zoning and environmental impact statement laws if for at least 30 years all units are rented to tenants earning no more than 140 percent of a county's median income at rents limited to no more than 30 percent of a tenant's income, a measure designed to reduce housing development costs.

Another bill aims to discourage real estate speculation by imposing a higher capital gains tax on anyone who buys and sells a home within two years.

Reach Mike Leidemann at mleidemann@honoluluadvertiser.com.