With a groundbreaking and blessing ceremony on Thursday, James Campbell Co. marked the start of construction on Nāliko, its newest residential community in Kapolei. The $170 million development will bring 300 rental homes to the West O‘ahu community.
Kevin Penn, president and CEO of James Campbell Co. since 2024, says the project is “more than new construction. It is an investment in people, in community and in the future of West O‘ahu.”
It’s also a historic moment for the company.
“Over many decades, our lands have supported thousands of homes across Kapolei and West O‘ahu,” he told the crowd gathered Thursday. “This is the first time we are developing a housing community that we intend to own as part of our long-term portfolio.”
The project can be found on 2.7 acres across from Kapolei Regional Park, at the corner of Kama‘aha Avenue and Manawai Street. It’ll feature five stories of residences built around a six-story parking garage, according to an announcement Friday.
TCA Architects designed the project and Moss & Associates is leading construction, which is expected to be finished in 2027.
Penn told Aloha State Daily that there will be a mix of studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom units, but a bulk of those — 175 — will be one-bedroom.
Matthew Caires, vice president of development affairs for the company, told ASD after the groundbreaking that there’s a critical need for rentals, especially affordable rentals.
Of the 300 units in the new development, 80% will be market rate while 20% will be reserved for households earning 80% of the area median income or below, he says. Income limits vary depending on the household size, but you can see the City and County of Honolulu’s current income limits here.
A project that has been several years in the making, Caires says the company is “incredibly grateful” to get to this point.
Housing continues to be a major challenge in the Islands. Hawai‘i Housing Finance and Development Corp.'s 2024 Hawai‘i Housing Planning study, which was published earlier this year, found that Hawai‘i will need an estimated 64,490 additional housing units by 2027 to meet demand.
“This project reflects our deep, ongoing commitment to building communities that meet Hawai‘i’s real housing needs,” Penn said in the announcement. “Every element of this development was created with the community in mind — from its walkable design to its access to parking, schools, and jobs. This project represents another step in our shared kuleana to meet Hawai‘i’s housing needs and to create opportunities that allow West O‘ahu families to build their futures right here at home.”
James Campbell Co. is a Hawai‘i-based, nationally diversified real estate company with a portfolio that spans 11 states and Washington D.C. It has played a pivotal role in the development of Kapolei.
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Stephanie Salmons can be reached at stephanie@alohastatedaily.com.
