Kakaako HCDA Meets Tomorrow: What’s on the May 6 Agenda for Ward Village and Surrounding Blocks

The Hawaii Community Development Authority will convene Wednesday morning to review several development proposals that could reshape key portions of Kakaako, including potential changes to Ward Village’s ongoing expansion and new projects along the waterfront corridor.

The May 6 meeting, scheduled for 9 a.m. at the HCDA offices on South Street, features an agenda packed with permit applications, design reviews, and zoning modifications that will influence how Honolulu’s fastest-growing neighborhood continues to evolve.

Among the most significant items up for consideration is a proposed modification to the Ward Village master plan that would allow for increased density in Block F, the area between Auahi Street and Ala Moana Boulevard. The Howard Hughes Corporation, Ward Village’s developer, is seeking approval to add two additional residential towers to the block, potentially bringing another 600 units to the already bustling district.

The proposal has drawn attention from Keeaumoku residents who worry about increased traffic congestion along already-strained Kapiolani Boulevard. Community concerns center on whether existing infrastructure can handle the additional density without creating bottlenecks that extend into surrounding neighborhoods.

“We’re seeing tremendous growth in Kakaako, which brings economic benefits, but we need to ensure that growth is sustainable and doesn’t overwhelm our roads and services,” said Tom Nakamura, president of the Keeaumoku Neighborhood Association. “These HCDA meetings are where the real decisions get made about our community’s future.”

Also on Wednesday’s agenda is a design review for a proposed mixed-use project at 888 Ala Moana Boulevard, directly across from the Blaisdell Center. The 28-story tower would include 350 residential units, ground-floor retail space, and a public plaza connecting to the existing Ala Moana Beach Park pathway system.

The project, developed by local firm Island Holdings LLC, represents one of the first major residential developments to incorporate the HCDA’s new sustainability requirements, including mandatory electric vehicle charging stations and renewable energy systems.

Waterfront Access Questions

Perhaps the most contentious item involves a request to modify public access requirements for the Kakaako Waterfront Park expansion. The proposal would temporarily limit pedestrian access to portions of the waterfront during construction of new recreational facilities, including enhanced fishing areas and expanded parking.

The waterfront access issue has become a flashpoint in recent months as longtime fishing families and recreational users push back against development pressures that they say threaten traditional uses of the coastline.

HCDA staff recommendations, published ahead of the meeting, generally support the proposed modifications with conditions requiring developers to maintain alternative public access routes and provide regular construction updates to the community.

The authority will also review several smaller-scale projects, including facade improvements to existing buildings along Pohukaina Street and permit renewals for food truck operations in Kakaako Community Park.

Development Pipeline Impact

Wednesday’s decisions could influence approximately $2.8 billion in planned development across Kakaako over the next five years, according to HCDA projections. The area has emerged as Honolulu’s primary growth engine, with more than 4,000 new residential units delivered since 2020 and another 3,500 in various stages of approval.

The meeting comes as city officials grapple with balancing rapid development against infrastructure capacity and community character preservation. Recent traffic studies show morning commute times from Kakaako to downtown have increased by an average of eight minutes over the past three years.

For residents tracking these issues, the HCDA meetings offer one of the few regular opportunities for public input on major development decisions. Unlike city council meetings, HCDA sessions tend to focus specifically on technical development standards and design details that directly affect how new buildings interact with existing neighborhoods.

The May 6 meeting will be held at the HCDA offices at 547 Queen Street, with public testimony accepted on all agenda items. The authority typically makes decisions during the same meeting, though complex items may be deferred to allow for additional community input or technical review.

For Kakaako residents and nearby communities, Wednesday’s outcomes will help determine whether the neighborhood’s rapid transformation continues at its current pace or faces new restrictions designed to address infrastructure and livability concerns.