Our Kaka‘ako Celebrates 15 Years of Kaiāulu (Community)

Dec 11, 2024

Artist rendering of Kamehameha Schools’ nine-block Kaiāulu ʻo Kaka‘ako master-planned neighborhood in urban Honolulu.

Fifteen years ago in 2009, Kamehameha Schools’ Kaiāulu ‘o Kaka‘ako Master Plan was approved by the Hawai‘i Community Development Authority (HCDA) making possible the implementation of its vision to: “Create a progressive 21st century living community that will act as a catalyst for innovation and nurture the evolution of a vibrant, urban island culture within a beautiful, healthy, and sustainable neighborhood.”

Before and after images of SALT at Our Kaka‘ako. Left: 1950s-era facade with jalousie windows. Right: New facade and colorful “Wooden Wave” mural in foreground with new parking garage featuring the mauka-facing wall of the “Naupaka Murals” in background.

Left and right: Auahi Street before and after infrastructure improvements in the late 1900s and in 2017. Photo courtesy of Hawai‘i Community Development Authority (HCDA).

Historically, the Kaka‘ako region was once home to salt flats and the Honolulu Iron Works metal foundry.

Our Kaka‘ako’s identity is deeply rooted in the district’s historical origins. This region was once known as Ka‘ākaukukui, an area with a long history of Native Hawaiian settlement, fishing villages, fishponds, and salt flats. Later, the district became home to a metal foundry, diverse immigrant camps, small stores, churches, and schools. More recently, the region has been an industrial district filled with numerous wholesalers, warehouses and auto repair shops.

Under the master plan, the district began to transform into what we know today as the nine-block urban Honolulu neighborhood of Our Kaka‘ako, renowned for its colorful street murals, innovation, trendy shops and restaurants, Hawaiian industrial modern look and feel, signature community events, and walkable, pet-friendly gathering spaces.

Kamehameha Schools and Our Kaka‘ako

Left: Ke Aliʻi Bernice Pauahi Pākī Bishop
Right: Kamehameha Schools students in The Barn at SALT at Our Kaka‘ako with the “Tapestry” mural by Mark Feijão Milligan II, Anna Ellazar, and Lily Mitchell

The 29 acres of Our Kaka‘ako are part of the nearly 365,000 acres of ancestral ʻāina (land) that were gifted to Ke Aliʻi Bernice Pauahi Pākī Bishop, the great-granddaughter and last royal descendant of King Kamehameha I. Ke Ali‘i Pauahi, with kuleana (responsibility), gifted her lands to support the education of Native Hawaiian children in perpetuity. Through her will, Kamehameha Schools was founded in 1887 as a private, educational, charitable trust. Today, its commercial properties through ʻĀina Pauahi, including Our Kaka‘ako, support its mission by providing a revenue stream for educational programs serving more than 77,000 learners1.

Kamehameha Schools is committed to stewarding its urban commercial ʻāina in a manner that balances social, economic, and community impacts while generating financial returns to support the educational mission and will of Ke Ali‘i Pauahi.

1 Source: Kamehameha Schools 2023 Hō‘ike Kū Makahiki – Annual Report

Start of Redevelopment

“From the beginning, the focus of Kamehameha Schools’ Kaiāulu ‘o Kaka‘ako Master Plan has been to redefine and enhance urban core living by creating a mixed residential and commercial community with open spaces and place-based educational activities that preserve the unique characteristics of the district while addressing market and social area needs,” said Robert Oda, president of Kaiāulu ‘o Kaka‘ako Owners Association, the nonprofit organization that works closely with Kamehameha Schools to ensure that redevelopment preserves the sense of cohesiveness and provides community benefit.

Our Kaka‘ako’s Blocks A, B, E, and F (in orange) were completed in the first phase of redevelopment. Blocks C, D, G, H, and I (in teal) are slated for future redevelopment.

Progress in redeveloping the first four blocks of Our Kakaʻako proceeded at a steady and deliberate pace. In 2014, Six Eighty Ala Moana opened on Block F with 54 affordable housing rental units under the HCDA Reserved Housing rental program, which provides housing priced for qualified residents within the low- to moderate-income range. In 2015 on Block B, 400 Keawe opened with 95 residential units, and Keawe Retail opened 32,675 square feet of retail property featuring eight retail spaces and a grocer anchor. In 2016, The Flats at Pu‘unui on Block B opened with 88 affordable housing units as part of the Rental Housing Revolving Fund rental program for qualified residents in the low- to moderate-income range. Also in 2016, The Collection on Block E opened with 467 residential units.

In 2017, the major retail center of SALT at Our Kaka‘ako opened with more than 85,000 square feet of commercial space, featuring local shops, restaurants and artist workspaces in an innovative adaptive reuse design. That same year, Keauhou Place on Block A opened with 423 units in the mixed-use condominium and townhouse complex. Also on Block A, Keauhou Lane opened in 2018 with 209 affordable housing units under the Hawaii Housing Finance & Development Corporation (HHFDC) Reserved Housing rental program for qualified residents in the low- to moderate-income range, and The Shops at Keauhou Lane opened with approximately 40,000 square feet of commercial space, featuring local shops, restaurants, and a grocer.

A Special Place for Residents and Commercial Tenants

“Over the years, this community has transformed,” said Our Kaka‘ako resident Jason Walter. “Having both lived and worked in the area since 2007, I’ve had the unique opportunity to witness it first hand. It’s been awesome to see so many cool cultural experiences brought to life. From the food and stories of ‘ohana at Highway Inn and Hank’s Haute Dogs, to arts and culture experiences staged by Kamehameha Schools and its nonprofit partners like World Wide Walls, Creative Mornings, Hawai‘i Opera Theatre, and others, I think Our Kaka‘ako offers something for everyone to enjoy.”

Cultural and educational events like Mele and Art (left) and Keiki Street Festival (right) engage and delight residents and the wider community.

Eric Ogata, senior asset manager, ‘Āina Pauahi, Kamehameha Schools said, “As we mark the 15th year since the inception of the master plan, we extend heartfelt appreciation to our tenant ʻohana and the incredible residents and community that make this neighborhood truly extraordinary. Their presence infuses life into the community, creating a unique blend of culture, education, and shared experiences. It is through the diverse offerings of our commercial tenants – from beloved stores and restaurants to specialty grocers and lifestyle shops – that the neighborhood thrives. We are humbled and thankful for the vibrant tapestry they weave into the fabric of Our Kaka‘ako.” He added, “As we look ahead, the upcoming Honolulu Civic Center rail station near Keauhou Lane promises to connect even more people to this special district, ensuring its accessibility for years to come.”

Highway Inn opened in Our Kaka‘ako in 2013 – its second location on O‘ahu – with ‘onolicious’ Hawaiian cuisine amid decor reminiscent of Hawai‘i’s plantation days. Photos courtesy of Highway Inn.

Monica Toguchi Ryan, president and owner of Highway Inn Companies and the third generation of her family to lead the business, recalled, “The opportunity to open in 2013 as one of the first anchor tenants at SALT at Our Kaka‘ako came at just the right time. We had been established in Waipahu for more than 60 years and were ready to explore bringing our style of Hawaiian and local food to an urban location. Our Kaka‘ako seemed like the right place for us, with its history of mom-and-pop businesses and Kamehameha Schools’ vision for a community that integrated dining, retail, and living.”

She added, “At the time, there were only two redeveloped buildings and many open lots. It seemed unlikely that this would become an area that would become a go-to-spot for dining and shopping, but we were confident that it would happen—and it did. In fact, we were completely overwhelmed by the response, and on our first day, there was already a long line before we even opened our doors! We’re happy to say that we’ve remained consistently busy and are glad to be a part of the community.”

Since 2004, Insomnia has been serving up homestyle Vietnamese favorites like lemongrass chicken sandwich in a French roll, pho noodle soup, and Vietnamese coffee to name a few. Photos courtesy of SALT at Our Kaka‘ako.

After immigrating to Honolulu from Saigon, Lethu Thi Hoang worked two or three jobs at a time and dreamed of someday owning her own business. That day came in 2004, when she opened her Vietnamese café, Insomnia, at its current location on Auahi Street. This was long before SALT at Our Kaka‘ako opened in 2017. While the retail center was being built, Insomnia remained open and was a popular breakfast and lunch spot for construction crews.

The restaurant remains a favorite of area residents, workers, and regular visitors – serving homestyle Vietnamese fare, including lemongrass chicken banh mi sandwiches, chicken cold noodle, pho, onion stir fry with ham and cheese on baguettes, omelets, and coffees.

Lethu and her husband, Hiep Vu, run the family business, with their daughter helping as well. “I like it here,” said Lethu. “Our longtime customers are like family.”

Redevelopment Continues

Artist renderings of future redevelopment projects. Left to Right: Kahuina on Block C by Stanford Carr Development LLC,  Waiakoa on Block D by Koa Partners and Castle & Cooke Hawai‘i, Kali‘u on Block G by ProsPac Holdings, and Ālia on Block I by Kobayashi Group.

Our Kaka‘ako is currently in the active stages of redevelopment, and its focus on providing affordable housing to the people of Hawai‘i will continue. A variety of residential options – for rent and for sale – will be available to kamaʻāina and ʻohana of diverse income levels. Open spaces, a central gathering place for cultural and educational events, and an array of retail shops, restaurants, and services will be featured.

“In our ongoing commitment to the well-being of our community, we’re excited about the next phase of the Kaiāulu ʻo Kakaʻako Master Plan,” said Pualani Hao, director of Planning and Development, ʻĀina Pauahi, Kamehameha Schools. “Recognizing the importance of mixed-income housing in fostering healthy communities and a sense of belonging, we are focused on significantly expanding affordable and workforce residential options. This includes reserved rental housing, ensuring diverse choices for local families and young professionals in the urban core. We believe that by keeping keiki at the center of all we do, we can provide much-needed homes for kamaʻāina without the need for families to relocate outside of Hawai‘i. As we look ahead, we anticipate the positive impact of these homes, retail offerings, and gathering spaces on the continued vibrancy of this neighborhood.”

Kamehameha Schools welcomes guest developers who share in the vision of Our Kaka‘ako and its kuleana and stewardship of ‘Āina Pauahi. Plans for Blocks C, D, G, and I are in progress with Stanford Carr Development, Koa Partners and Castle & Cooke Hawai‘i, ProsPac Holdings, and Kobayashi Group, respectively.

On Block C, Kahuina, meaning “the crossroads and intersections,” will be a mixed-use project that will include 861 residential units — with 60% of the units designated as workforce and affordable housing — as well as 42,000 square feet of commercial space. Construction is anticipated to start in 2025.

On Block D, Waiakoa, refers to the life-giving waters that once sustained Hawaiian warriors, helping them protect and care for their communities. The mixed-use project will encompass approximately 1,032 residential units, including 60% affordable housing, as well as open community green spaces, a central plaza and approximately 68,000 square feet of commercial space. Groundbreaking is anticipated to begin in 2026.

On Block G, Kali‘u, meaning “well-seasoned” in Hawaiian, embodies the concepts of resource stewardship and sustainability, honoring the region’s historical salt-beds. The 400-foot structure will be comprised of 294 market-priced homes and 42,000 square feet of commercial space. Construction is anticipated to start in 2025.

On Block I, Ālia takes its name from the Hawaiian word for “salt bed,” alluding to the salt flats that historically comprised the region. The project will feature 417 market-priced homes and 40 reserve housing units. It will also include 3,500 square feet of ground-floor commercial space. Construction is currently underway.

Kamehameha Schools is currently engaging prospective guest developers for Block H, the final remaining block of Increment II. Once a guest developer has been selected, an announcement will be shared.

Where Street Art Flourishes

Artists paint early street murals in Our Kaka‘ako during the POW! WOW! festival, including Pow! Wow! Co-Lead Director Kamea Hadar (in gray t-shirt). Some of the district’s iconic murals include (left to right): “Bernice Pauahi Bishop” by Kahiau Beamer, “Wooden Wave” by Matthew and Roxanne Ortiz, and “Hilo Honu” by Kai‘ili Kaulukukui. Photos courtesy of World Wide Walls, formerly known as POW! WOW!.

Accessible street beautification murals are synonymous with Our Kaka‘ako, and it all started when the neighborhood was in its infancy. Kamehameha Schools invited the artists of POW! WOW! Hawai‘i in 2011 to showcase their talents by painting original art on the buildings. Many pieces pay tribute to the area’s history, environment, people, and legacy. The lively, colorful street murals are meant to be dynamic and ever-changing, with new pieces added over time.

Pow! Wow! Hawai‘i would eventually host an annual festival in Kaka‘ako in which more than 100 murals would spring to life within a week as 120 artists from Hawai‘i and other parts of the world converged to leave their mark.

“Our festival grew year by year, and we found ourselves running out of walls to paint on,” recalled Jasper Wong, founder of POW! WOW!, which is now known as World Wide Walls. “Additionally, the passage of time took its toll on some of our earlier murals, so to ensure that our artistic legacy remained vibrant, we had a process of refreshing these murals and breathing new life into them each year.”

He continued, “The impact of the artwork has been profound and multifaceted, transforming the district from a once-forgotten enclave into a thriving epicenter of creativity and community.”

As redevelopment continues, Our Kaka‘ako can look forward to the emergence of new street murals over time.

Bringing the Community Together

Residents enjoy an array of signature community events like Honolulu Night Market, featuring local food and retail vendors, fashion shows, and entertainment; ‘Ohana Stargazing, where families observe the stars and learn about Hawaiian celestial navigation on the rooftop of the SALT at Our Kaka‘ako parking garage; and Bark in the Park, where people and their pets enjoy fun in the sun.

During its 15-year history, Our Kaka‘ako has hosted numerous community events that celebrate local food, entertainment, fashion, Hawaiian culture, learning, nonprofit partnership, care for the environment, and the pet-friendly nature of the neighborhood. Signature events continue to grow in popularity and attendance, including Honolulu Night Market, ‘Ohana Stargazing, Bark in the Park, Keiki Street Festival, and Mālama ‘Āina Community Cleanup to name a few.

Staying Connected

Residents enjoy urban island living in Our Kaka‘ako.

As community is synonymous with connection, Our Kaka‘ako encourages residents and visitors to stay connected with the neighborhood and one another. It recently introduced text messaging as another communication channel, in addition to email, for people to receive the latest community news, updates, and special event information. To subscribe to Our Kaka‘ako’s email and text messaging communications, visit https://ourkakaako.com/.

Just as the district of Kaka‘ako has historically nurtured a strong sense of community, the master-planned neighborhood of Our Kaka‘ako will continue to embrace the area’s history, culture, values, sense of place, creativity, innovation, and progressive spirit in the years to come.

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