Ward Village — Howard Hughes' 60-acre master-planned community located between Downtown Honolulu and Waikīkī — broke ground Wednesday on its 11th residential tower, The Launiu Ward Village.
You’ll find The Launiu on the corner of Ala Moana Boulevard and Ward Avenue, marking the makai entry into the neighborhood. In an announcement Wednesday, the developer said the project will add to the community another 486 one-, two- and three-bedroom homes; more ground-floor retail and restaurant spots; and 21,000 square feet of public open space.
To commemorate Wednesday’s groundbreaking, Ward Village and its construction partner, Swinerton, donated a combined $40,000 to two local nonprofits: Laukahi Network and Downtown Arts Center.
“The Launiu at Ward Village marks a significant milestone in the continued evolution of our master-planned community,” Doug Johnstone, president of the Hawai‘i Region and National Condominium Development for Howard Hughes Communities, said in the announcement. “This groundbreaking reflects the momentum of our vision and our commitment to delivering design-forward, quality homes that integrate the character and lifestyle of Hawai‘i.”
The Launiu was designed by Miami-based Arquitectonica, with interiors by San Francisco-based ODADA and landscaping by San Rafael, California-based VITA, Inc. It was inspired by “the historic coconut groves of the Ward family estate,” the announcement reads. “Its slender, mid-century coastal profile is oriented toward Diamond Head and Honolulu’s coastline, featuring floor-to-ceiling windows, Juliet balconies and open layouts that capture expansive views and abundant natural light.”
In addition to retail and dining, the street level also will have landscaped sidewalks, pedestrian and bike paths that connect to Ka La‘i o Kukuluāe‘o Park, which opened in September, and the adjacent Ulana Ward Village, the announcement notes.
A Ward Village spokesperson told Aloha State Daily via email that construction on The Launiu is expected be finished in 2028.
According to the developer, 324 units, or about 67% of the residences, were under contract as of June 30.
The story so far …
Ward Village has sold out its first seven mixed-use residential towers: Waiea, Anaha, Ae‘o, Ke Kilohana, ‘A‘ali‘i, Kō‘ula and Victoria Place.
In addition to The Launiu, new residential buildings under construction or in development at Ward Village include Ulana Ward Village, The Park Ward Village, Kalae, Melia Ward Village, and ‘Ilima Ward Village, which is being developed in partnership with Discovery Land Co.
The Ward Village spokesperson told ASD that residents are set to move into Ulana Ward Village, which will have 697 workforce units, in November. Construction began in late 2022.
According to the spokesperson, The Park Ward Village is scheduled to be finished next year. This development is located adjacent to Victoria Ward Park and will add another 546 new homes to the neighborhood.
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.
Kalae is expected to welcome residents in 2028, adding another 330 new homes, creating more green space along Ala Moana Boulevard and bringing new ground-floor retail spaces and public art to the neighborhood, the spokesperson noted.
Meanwhile, a construction timeline for Melia Ward Village, and ‘Ilima Ward Village — which are planned for the block where Ward Centre is currently located — has not been finalized, the spokesperson says.
The 33-story ‘Ilima Ward Village will have 148 homes while Melia Ward Village, its 35-story companion, will offer 221 residences.
“The two buildings will be connected by a native botanical garden pathway linking the restored IBM Building to Ka Lei Park, a 1-acre public space with walkways and native planting,” the spokesperson says.
A $17.8 million elevated walkway connecting Victoria Ward Park Makai to Ala Moana Beach Park and Kewalo Basin opened in May.
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Stephanie Salmons can be reached at stephanie@alohastatedaily.com.
