The City and County of Honolulu is moving forward with what city officials call an "ambitious and strategic plan" for the redevelopment of the Iwilei Center.
"Picture stepping off the Skyline rail at Kūwili Station and into a vibrant, bustling neighborhood that didn't exist a few years ago," Kevin Auger, Honolulu's director of housing told Aloha State Daily in an email. "Where there were once aging warehouses and industrial lots, you new see modern, mixed-use buildings alive with energy — families walking to parks, small businesses lining the streets and residents commuting with ease between home work and school. The streets are designed for people first, with shaded pedestrian walkways, bike lanes, and inviting public spaces where the community gathers.
"This is the future of Iwilei."
The city's Department of Land Management, in partnership with the mayor's Office of Housing, this week issued a request for qualifications for the redevelopment of the Iwilei Center. The city says the redevelopment is a "key component of Honolulu's transit-oriented development initiative, leveraging the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation's Skyline rail system to create high-density, mixed-use communities with accessible housing, economic opportunities and multimodal transportation options."
In December 2023, the city acquired the former First Hawaiian Bank building at 445 N. King St. for $8.4 million and in January 2024 it acquired the Iwilei Center for $51.5 million.
The city's recently unveiled three-year strategic housing plan says these acquisitions, which total nearly five acres of land, "will form the catalyst of its redevelopment and revitalization efforts around the Kūwili Rail Station in Iwilei, consistent with the Downtown TOD Neighborhood Plan."
For O‘ahu as a whole, Auger says the redevelopment represents a "major shift toward sustainable urban living."
Honolulu has long struggled with housing affordability, traffic congestion and limited space for further growth, he says, further noting that by concentrating new housing and businesses around the rail, more people can live close to the places they work, shop and access other "essential services."
"The addition of hundreds of new housing units, including affordable options, will provide opportunities for local families who might otherwise be priced out of urban Honolulu," Auger says.
And for Urban Honolulu specifically, Auger says the project "marks a transformation from an underutilized industrial district into a dynamic, transit-friendly community."
"More than just a collection of buildings, this project embodies a new way of thinking about urban development in Hawai‘i — one that embraces connectivity, sustainability and quality of life," Auger said. "Iwilei will become a model for smart growth, proving that Honolulu can evolve without losing its identity, and that communities can be built with people at the center, not just cars and roads."
With the RFQ process, the city said in an announcement Tuesday that it's looking for a "qualified development partner" to redevelop the Iwilei Center through a public-private partnership.
It's looking for a development partner "to create a transformative, mixed-use, transit-oriented project that integrates affordable housing with commercial, retail, institutional, educational, recreational and governmental services in an activated community with a focus on affordability, quality of life and transit options," the announcement noted.
The chosen developer will oversee master planning, environmental clearance, architectural design, entitlement, financing, construction, lease-up and operations in return for a development contract and 75-year ground lease, the city said.
Auger told ASD that the city has set an "ambitious goal" to break ground on the redevelopment by 2028.
Once a development partner is selected, Auger says work will begin immediately on the pre-development phase, which includes master planning, securing entitlements and environmental clearances.
"By setting clear goals and leveraging the expertise of both public and private partners, the city is ensuring that this redevelopment will move forward as efficiently as possible," Auger told ASD. "The end result will be a thoughtfully designed, transit-oriented community that provides much-needed housing and economic opportunities for Honolulu."
“Housing is not just about constructing units — it’s about creating thriving, walkable, and connected communities where people can truly live, work and thrive,” Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi said in the announcement Tuesday. “This transformative project is a pivotal step in reimagining Iwilei as a thoughtfully designed, transit-oriented neighborhood that puts affordability, sustainability, and quality of life at the forefront.”
Auger referenced Blangiardi's comment when asked to talk more about the city's overall plans for Iwilei and how it plays into the mayor's housing goals.
"Iwilei has long been recognized as a prime location for transit-oriented development, where housing, businesses and public spaces are integrated around major transit hubs," he said. "With the Skyline rail system now operational and expanding, this project presents a rare opportunity to transform an underutilized area into a thriving, transit-friendly neighborhood. This redevelopment will deliver hundreds of new housing units, both affordable and market-rate, while also bringing in retail, institutional and governmental services.
"By making housing more accessible and integrated with daily needs, the project will allow more residents to stay in the communities where they work and raise families."
Auger said, too, this effort builds on nearly a decade of community input and planning.
RFQs must be submitted by 1 p.m. Wednesday, April 30. More information can be found here. Auger says the full redevelopment timeline will depend on the selected developer's proposal, financing and approvals required.
The Kumu Ola Hou Iwilei Transitional Shelter, a collaboration between the city and the state, recently opened in Iwilei Center. It is the first of four shelter set to open within the facility, which the city will use as a transitional shelter before the property is redeveloped. More information about that can be found here.
Stephanie Salmons can be reached at stephanie@alohastatedaily.com.
