A new park is now open in Kaka‘ako, adding nearly 26,000 square feet — a little more than a half acre — of green space to the neighborhood.
Ward Village — Howard Hughes' 60-acre master-planned community located between Downtown Honolulu and Waikīkī — opened Ka La‘i o Kukuluāe‘o Park today.
Here, you'll find newly landscaped open space with pedestrian paths and park seating, as well as an interactive play structure, Biki Bike station and water refilling station, the developer said in an announcement Wednesday.
Located adjacent to the developer's soon-to-open residence, Ulana Ward Village, Ka La‘i Park is bordered by Pohukaina Street, Kamani Street, and the forthcoming Auahi Street realignment, the announcement noted.
“Ka La‘i Park will play a meaningful role in the day-to-day life of our community,” Doug Johnstone, president of the Hawaiʻi region and national condominium development for Howard Hughes, said in a statement. “Together with the upcoming opening of our workforce housing project, Ulana Ward Village, just next door, and the completion of Victoria Ward Park Mauka later this year, these milestones advance our commitment to cultivating an integrated, connected neighborhood.”
Construction on Kai Laʻi Park began in February and was substantially completed in July, the announcement says. The park was developed with Hawaiian Dredging Construction, Architects Hawaiʻi Ltd., PBR Hawaiʻi & Associates, and Wilson Okamoto Corp.
According to the developer, Ka Laʻi Kukuluāeʻo means “the calm of Kukuluāeʻo,” and "reflects the area’s history as coastal wetlands and recalls the native Hawaiian stilt waterbird once found here." In fact, seven cast-bronze stilt sculptures by artist Dan Ostermiller were previously commissioned for the nearby Victoria Ward Park as part of Ward Village’s place-based public art program, the announcement noted.
The makai phase of Victoria Ward Park opened earlier this year, located between residential towers Victoria Place, which welcomed residents last November, and Kalae, construction of which began in January 2024, and is bordered by Auahi Street on one side and Ala Moana Boulevard on the other.
Residents are set to move into Ulana Ward Village in November, Wednesday's announcement notes, nearly three years after Ward Village broke ground the 41-story tower in late 2022. Ulana will have 697 workforce units and the development is fully sold, representatives for Ward Village confirmed to Aloha State Daily.
Ward Village has sold out its first seven mixed-use residential towers: Waiea, Anaha, Ae‘o, Ke Kilohana, ʻAʻaliʻi, Kō‘ula, and Victoria Place.
In addition to Ulana, new residential buildings under construction or in development at Ward Village include The Park Ward Village, Kalae, The Launiu Ward Village, Melia Ward Village, and ‘Ilima Ward Village, which is being developed in partnership with Discovery Land Co.
Howard Hughes recently announced record sales at Melia Ward Village and ‘Ilima Ward Village, which are planned for the current site of Ward Centre.
"The two towers, designed by renowned architecture firm Robert A.M. Stern Architects, reported record-breaking sales of $1.2 billion at launch, including over $280 million in penthouse sales, with a single residence selling in excess of $40 million," a Sept. 4 announcement from Howard Hughes noted. As of Sept. 1, ‘Ilima and Melia were 41% and 52% pre-sold, respectively, the developer said.
The 33-story ‘Ilima Ward Village will have 148 residences while Melia Ward Village, its 35-story companion, will offer 221 residences and a "full suite of amenities," according to that announcement.
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Stephanie Salmons can be reached at stephanie@alohastatedaily.com.
