Hawaii Breaks Ground on $1.3 Billion Kalihi Housing Redevelopment

Honolulu faces a housing deficit that has persisted for decades, a gap that state officials claim this new construction will begin to close.

On Thursday, the Hawaii Public Housing Authority and developer Highridge Costa held a ceremony to start construction on the first phase of the Mayor Wright Homes redevelopment. The site covers 15 acres in the Kalihi-Palama neighborhood, bordered by King Street, Liliha Street, and Vineyard Boulevard.

The project replaces a complex built nearly 75 years ago. The new development will contain more than 2,400 rental homes, seven times the number of units in the current structure. These units will range from studios to five-bedroom apartments and will be spread across 10 towers. The plan also includes condominiums for sale, commercial space, and four acres of public parks.

Hakim Ouansafi, executive director of the housing authority, stated that the goal is to move away from concentrated poverty. He said, "Public housing should never mean second class housing." More than half of the new units are reserved for tenants earning less than 80% of the area median income. Later phases will expand eligibility to households earning up to 100% of that median, a figure of approximately $150,000 annually for a family of four. Displaced current residents have priority rights to return to the new buildings.

Gov. Josh Green described the project as central to the state's strategy, linking stable housing to improved health and education outcomes. Moe Mohanna, president of Highridge Costa Development Company, called the initiative a legacy project. Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi connected the build to the arrival of the Skyline rail line, noting the site will be within walking distance of the planned Iwilei rail station.

The housing authority estimates the cost of Phase 1A at $333 million. The state's 2017 estimate for the entire 15-year project was $1.3 billion. The first building is scheduled to open in 2029.

Current Mayor Wright residents are being relocated during the construction period. The development aims to serve a mix of income levels rather than only very low-income residents, marking a shift in the state's approach to public housing design.