Ward Village — Howard Hughes' 60-acre master-planned community located between Downtown Honolulu and Waikīkī — has welcomed its newest residents to its newest tower, Ulana Ward Village.
Construction on Ulana, Ward Village’s eighth tower, began in late 2022. Its opening on Monday adds to the island’s housing inventory 697 workforce units for households earning between 100% and 140% of the area median income.
Ulana Ward Village draws its name from the Hawaiian word meaning to plait or braid, the developer says. (Ward Village) 
The residential reception area. (Ward Village) 
An indoor-outdoor lobby at Ulana Ward Village. (Ward Village) 
The indoor-outdoor lobby at Ulana Ward Village. (Ward Village) 
Ulana Ward Village ‘ohana living room (Ward Village) 
Ulana Ward Village barbecue grills (Ward Village) 
Ulana Ward Village work spaces (Ward Village) 
Ulana Ward Village lawn and barbeque cabanas. (Ward Village) 
The Ulana Ward Village fitness center (Ward Village) 
The Ulana Ward Village lawn pavilion (Ward Village)
“All 697 residences were pre-sold to first-time kama‘āina homebuyers under the HCDA [Hawai‘i Community Development Authority] Reserved Housing program, which supports moderate-income working individuals and families who do not qualify for traditional subsidized housing,” an announcement from Ward Village on Monday noted.
Designed by AHL, Ulana — a name that comes from the Hawaiian word meaning to plait or braid — offers studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom units, with high-end finishes; full-height windows; and views of the ocean, mountain and city skyline, according to the announcement.
Meanwhile, interiors by Honolulu-based InForm Design, Inc. include stainless steel appliances, porcelain tile floors and quartz counter tops, among other features, the announcement states. Art by Hawai‘i-based artists and inspired by the word “ulana” can also be found throughout the property, Ward Village says.
Amenities include surfboard storage, barbecue cabanas, a dog park and a front lawn that leads into Ka La‘i o Kukuluāe‘o Park, which opened in September. The tower also has 6,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space, the announcement noted.
“The opening of Ulana Ward Village marks a transformative moment for Honolulu, especially for first-time homebuyers who now have the opportunity to own a home that reflects the quality, design, amenities and lifestyle for which Ward Village is known,” said Doug Johnstone, president of the Hawai‘i Region and National Condominium Development for Howard Hughes Communities, said in a statement. “Ulana strengthens our commitment to creating a truly inclusive community that continues to redefine urban island living.”
To mark the milestone, Ward Village donated $120,000 to six local nonprofits: After-School All-Stars Hawai‘i, American Cancer Association Honolulu Hope Lodge, Center for Tomorrow’s Leaders, Hawai‘i HomeOwnership Center, KCAA Muriel Preschool and KUPU.
Ward Village has sold out its first eight mixed-use residential towers: Waiea, Anaha, Ae‘o, Ke Kilohana, ‘A‘ali‘i, Kō‘ula, Victoria Place and Ulana Ward Village.
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.
The developer broke ground on The Launiu, its 11th residential tower, last month, and provided Aloha State Daily with an update of its ongoing work at that time.
In addition to Ka La‘i o Kukuluāe‘o Park, 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.
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.
