The City and County of Honolulu is taking yet another step forward in its efforts to transform the city’s urban core, selecting EAH Housing as its preferred negotiating partner for the redevelopment of the Iwilei Center.
The four-acre parcel, acquired by the city nearly two years ago, is adjacent to the future Kūwili Skyline rail station. Its redevelopment is expected to bring hundreds of new homes to the area, along with retail spaces, community amenities and “transit-connected public spaces,” the city says.
“The Iwilei Center is a cornerstone of our broader effort to reshape the area around the future Kūwili Skyline Transit Oriented Development area,” Kevin Auger, director designate of the city’s Department of Housing and Land Management, told Aloha State Daily Thursday. “The overall redevelopment of this transit-connected neighborhood can support thousands of homes over time.”
In this public-private partnership, the selected developer will oversee master-planning, environmental clearance, architectural design, entitlement, financing, construction, lease-up and operations in return for a development contract and a 75-year ground lease, according to the request for qualifications issued for the project earlier this year.
Auger told ASD in an emailed response to questions that by choosing EAH Housing as its preferred negotiating partner, the city is entering into an exclusive negotiation period to finalize the development agreement and ground lease for approval by the Honolulu City Council, a process that typically takes several months.
“While negotiating these agreements, early predevelopment work — including due diligence, massing studies, infrastructure coordination and initial community engagement may also proceed,” he says. “Our goal is to move efficiently through negotiations so the project team can begin the next phase of planning and environmental review in 2026.”
Auger says that the project site gives the city the opportunity to deliver hundreds of new affordable and workforce housing units in an area adjacent to the historic Chinatown district and within walking distance of Downtown Honolulu, "a major job center for the city." At this stage, city expects the site to have between 750 and 1,000 homes as part of the high-density, mixed-use redevelopment, he noted, although the total number of units will ultimately depend on the developer’s proposal and the final project scope.
“By moving Iwilei Center into pre-development now, we’re taking a major step toward growing Honolulu’s housing inventory in a place where new homes make the most sense.”
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.
A three-year strategic housing plan unveiled earlier this year 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."
The city noted in Thursday’s announcement that the redevelopment of Iwilei Center is a key component in its ongoing master-planning efforts for the Kūwili and Niuhelewai (Honolulu Community College and Kapālama) rail station areas, “a coordinated, multi-million dollar effort aligning land use, infrastructure upgrades, transportation systems and public realm improvements.”
In July, the city selected DTL, a Honolulu-based Native Hawaiian-owned strategy, planning and design firm — in partnership with Toronto-based BDP Quadrangle, Honolulu-based SSFM International and Tokyo-based Nippon Koei — to lead that master-planning effort. A request for proposal was issued in June.
EAH Housing, the lead developer for the Iwilei Center redevelopment, has more than 30 years of experience developing affordable and workforce housing in Hawai‘i, according to the city. Core Tech is a co-developer and Lowney Architecture is the project architect, the city notes.
Karen Seddon, regional vice president of EAH Housing, said in the announcement that the organization is “honored” to be chosen for the opportunity.
“Iwilei Center is more than a housing project — it’s a chance to help shape a complete, transit-connected neighborhood that will serve families for generations,” she says. “We’re committed to delivering high-quality, long-term, affordable, and workforce homes that reflect the city’s vision and truly benefit the community.”
According to the city, the project now moves into its next phase, which includes community engagement, environmental review, land-use approvals and financial structuring. Planning and design work will continue over the next year.
Currently, the Iwilei Center houses the Department of Community Services’ Kumu Ola Hou program, a transitional shelter that opened earlier this year while the property waits for redevelopment. It expanded this summer.
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Stephanie Salmons can be reached at stephanie@alohastatedaily.com.
