More than 445 homeless people moved off of island streets and out of emergency shelters during the span of Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s 90-day homeless plan, which began in May and ends today.

Abercrombie’s plan to ease homelessness focused on Waikiki and urban Honolulu, which saw more than 200 people move into transitional or permanent housing over the past 90 days.

But 245 homeless people on Maui, Kauai and Hawaii island also moved off of island streets and out of emergency shelters over the past 90 days, Marc Alexander, Abercrombie’s homeless coordinator, said Sunday at the Next Step Shelter in Kakaako.

"The numbers speak for themselves," Alexander said.

More than 130 people also were referred to housing resources through the state’s new homeless hot-line system, which already has received more than 500 phone calls and emails.

A new detailed registry of homeless people in Waikiki and Honolulu’s urban core also found "seniors are much more in need than we had really expected," Alexander said. A special team has since been created to specifically look at helping homeless senior citizens, he said.

"It’s scandalous to see 60-, 70-, 80-year-old men and women on the street when they shouldn’t be there," Alexander said.

State Rep. Tom Brower, who represents Waikiki and Ala Moana, has disagreed with the Abercrombie administration for not supporting the concept of a "safe zone" where homeless people can live in a secure area somewhere on Oahu. But on Sunday, Brower walked from his home in Waikiki, through Ala Moana Beach Park and along Kakaako’s shoreline to get to Abercrombie’s press conference and agreed that there seem to be fewer homeless people living on the streets.

"It is cleaner than it was a few months ago, and I’m happy about that," Brower said. "The governor and his administration have their eye on the ball, and they’re engaged and they’ve made this a top priority. If the governor’s administration has solutions to contribute, I’m going to support them."

Alexander reiterated Sunday his belief that long-term approaches — rather than temporary ideas such as a safe zone — can eliminate homelessness in Hawaii within 10 years.

Abercrombie’s approach to homelessness will move into a new phase on Aug. 25, when he will convene the Hawaii Interagency Council on Homelessness with the goals of coming up with three- and 10-year homeless plans.

The council, based on a national model, was created by an executive order that Abercrombie signed July 19.

Abercrombie’s 90-day homeless plan was criticized for discouraging church groups and other organizations from feeding homeless people in parks and beaches — to instead encourage homeless people to access services found in homeless shelters. The plan also has been criticized for not directly addressing Oahu’s homeless problem in time for November’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation conference, which will attract the leaders of 21 APEC nations and 2,500 international journalists to Oahu.

Abercrombie snapped back Sunday when a reporter pointed out that Oahu’s homeless situation will not be resolved in time for APEC.

"So what?" Abercrombie said. "The kind of speculation that’s out there about APEC and homelessness only detracts from — and is dysfunctional — in terms of the game plan that we have operating. To the degree APEC benefits or doesn’t benefit from whatever we’re doing here, all well and good. Our focus is on homelessness and ending it."

The 90-day homeless plan saw unprecedented coordination and cooperation among government, community groups, nonprofits, community and faith-based organizations, businesses, shelter and outreach services, Alexander said.

Hope Services Hawaii also set up Hawaii’s first "safe parking" zone at its Hilo shelter, Kihei Pua, and the concept will probably be implemented at other shelters across the state, Alexander said.

A safe parking zone allows homeless people to sleep in their cars while still gaining access to shelter services, as long as the occupants follow shelter rules, he said.

David Cannell, 58, uses a wheelchair because of complications from diabetes and has been homeless for seven years. For the past 10 months, he has lived at the Next Step Shelter, and he quibbles with the Abercrombie administration over some of its approaches.

While more than 200 homeless on Oahu have moved into transitional or permanent housing, Cannell worries about growing pockets of homeless people, especially along Beretania Street directly across from Aala Park in Chinatown.

"Are they just moving around?" Cannell asked. "I’m worried they’re just finding other encampments."

But since Abercrombie’s homeless plan began in May, Cannell has noticed fewer homeless on Oahu’s streets.

"They’re making progress," Cannell said. "I have to give them credit."