Office of Housing

HONOLULU – With the commencement of Skyline operations in June 2023, the City and County of Honolulu (City) is moving swiftly to activate the adopted Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) plans that were developed in consultation with the communities surrounding the rail stations. To accelerate these plans, the City is moving forward with the next phase of the Kūwili Station TOD Area Redevelopment. This transformative initiative aims to increase the supply of affordable housing and revitalize the Iwilei community.

The Kūwili Station TOD Redevelopment Area represents a unique opportunity to advance State and City TOD objectives through redevelopment of an existing blighted and underutilized commercial and industrial neighborhood into a dynamic, mixed-use, walkable community, with a focus on expanding access to affordable housing and transportation. As recommended by the Downtown Neighborhood TOD Plan,^[1] redevelopment of this area would allow greater density for housing, and opportunities for commercial, retail, institutional, and governmental services to support it, combined with convenient access and close proximity to multimodal transportation networks and employment centers.

The City plans to undertake a comprehensive Master Planning effort for the Kūwili Station TOD Redevelopment Area that will be completed in accordance with the City’s Complete Streets Ordinance (Section 14-33, ROH). The Master Planning effort envisions new pedestrian pathways, bike lanes, and street networks to improve connectivity and access to neighboring uses and nearby employment centers and to provide convenient access to multiple forms of transportation, including major roads, shared-use paths, bus lines, and the Kūwili Station located makai of the Dillingham Boulevard and Ka‘aahi Street intersection. The Master Plan will also seek to incorporate retail and commercial uses at street level, connectivity among future developments to promote walkability, well-designed recreational spaces, and green building and sustainability concepts that will contribute to improved individual health, well-being, and quality of life for generations of residents.

The City recently acquired two significant properties in Iwilei near the Kūwili Skyline Station: the former First Hawaiian Bank property at 445 North King Street, which closed in December 2023, and Iwilei Center property at 866/850 Iwilei Road and 505 Ka‘aahi Street, which closed in January 2024.

The Iwilei Center property alone totals approximately 167,032 square feet of land. As part of its continuing effort to revitalize the area, the City’s Department of Design and Construction (DDC), in partnership with the Department of Land Management (DLM) and the Mayor’s Office of Housing, is beginning outreach to property owners along Ka‘aahi Street to initiate the acquisition process for additional parcels of land. These efforts are being conducted in compliance with the federal Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970, which ensures fair treatment and support for those impacted by public acquisitions.

Acquisition of these additional parcels of land is necessary to advance its Master Planning efforts for the Kūwili Station TOD Redevelopment Area by enabling the redevelopment of key blocks into new affordable housing, infrastructure improvements, and public amenities that support a vibrant, transit-oriented neighborhood. In addition to supporting affordable housing and improved accessibility, these land acquisitions aim to address critical environmental concerns, including flooding and rising sea levels. These risks will be assessed and mitigated as part of the City’s comprehensive Master Planning effort, ensuring that redevelopment in the Kūwili Station area is resilient and sustainable.

“With the potential to deliver thousands of housing units in the heart of Honolulu, we are excited to take this next step in advancing a project that will have long-term benefits for our community,” said HOU Executive Director Kevin D. Auger. “These acquisitions are essential to unlocking redevelopment opportunities within the Kūwili Station TOD area, including affordable housing, multimodal connectivity, and neighborhood-serving uses envisioned in the Master Plan. We’re committed to treating property owners and tenants with respect and ensuring that everyone affected receives the information, support, and assistance they need throughout this process.”

Compensation for properties will be based on fair market value, as determined by an appraisal of the property. The City will perform and pay for the appraisal report. Property owners will be contacted in the coming weeks to schedule site inspections. They will receive detailed information on the appraisal and compensation process, and relocation assistance where applicable. This is not a notice to vacate. Impacted individuals are encouraged not to relocate or sign any new lease or purchase agreements until they have received formal notification of their eligibility for relocation benefits. All affected occupants will receive a minimum of 90 days advance written notice prior to any required move.

DLM recently released RFQ-DLM-25-02 on March 3, 2025, seeking a qualified development partner to plan, finance, design, and construct a high-density, mixed-use housing development at the Iwilei Center site to advance the City’s redevelopment efforts. The selected team will enter into a long-term ground lease with the City and will be responsible for securing permits, entitlements, and project financing. Qualifications are due by April 30, 2025, and the full RFQ is available at hands.ehawaii.gov.

[1] Downtown Neighborhood TOD Plan, July 2020: www.honolulu.gov/tod/neighborhoods/downtown