Kōʻula Development Approved By HCDA

The next Ward Village mixed-use residential tower moves forward

HONOLULU – The Howard Hughes Corporation® received approval today from the Hawaiʻi Community Development Authority for the development of Kōʻula, the next planned mixed-use residential tower in Ward Village. With this approval, the team will further its planning of the project and target launch of sales for end-of-year or early 2019. Pending sales, the Company hopes to break ground late 2019.

“We want to say mahalo to the HCDA Board and Staff for the effort they undertook to consider our application and approve Kōʻula. Ward Village is quickly becoming a true live, work, play community as the redevelopment of our urban core moves forward,” said Todd Apo, Senior Vice President of Community Development at The Howard Hughes Corporation. “Kōʻula is exciting because of its connection to the Central Plaza. It will activate and enhance the plaza to serve as a dynamic, public gathering place for the local community.”

Located in the heart of Ward Village®, the Howard Hughes Corporation’s 60-acre master-planned community transforming Honolulu’s urban core, Kōʻula is the first tower to be designed in Hawaiʻi by Studio Gang, the architecture and urban design practice led by acclaimed American architect and MacArthur Fellow Jeanne Gang. The building’s interiors are being designed by the highly-regarded firm Yabu Pushelberg. Kōʻula will be located adjacent to the Central Plaza, Ward Village’s expansive, open-air gathering place, which will open early next year and is designed to connect residents and visitors with the surrounding cafes, restaurants, shops and parks located within the award-winning pedestrian-friendly community. The Central Plaza will also be home to community events ranging from yoga, farmersʻ markets, outdoor cinema series, and live Hawaiian music and hula. 

Comprised of approximately 570 residences, the 41-story Kōʻula tower will offer studios, one-, two- and three-bedroom residences ranging in size from approximately 300 square feet to 1,500 square feet. Kōʻula features generous private lanai in every tower residence, increasing shade and improving comfort to take advantage of the indoor/outdoor lifestyle of the islands. The exterior design creates a fluid, waving façade giving way to residences that bend to the coastline for stunning ocean views, natural light and breezy trade winds. The literal translation of Kōʻula means “red sugar cane,” which references the design of the building’s structural columns and honors the history of the region. Targeting LEED Certification, the bold structure improves environmental performance by reducing solar heat gain. 

Kōʻula connects to a public porte cochère that opens onto an expansive courtyard to establish a new entry point to the Central Plaza. A collection of new dining and shopping establishments at Ward Village will come to life at the base of the tower, activating the Central Plaza and complementing the existing culinary and retail options just steps away. Residents will have exclusive access to a lobby and drop-off area located one level above, framing sweeping views of the courtyard below.

The interiors, designed by Yabu Pushelberg in collaboration with Studio Gang, have clean lines and muted color palette to evoke the zen-like tranquility of a fine resort. Positioned on the eighth floor, the amenity deck blends into a great room that opens on both sides featuring the Plaza to the west and a 42,000 square foot outdoor terrace to the east. Over an acre of amenities are featured, including a spectacular swimming pool, a dedicated children’s splash and play area, poolside cabanas, sunset lounge, a dynamic lawn, spacious dining terraces surrounded by lush, native landscaping and expansive island views. Additionally, the amenity level features a spa, fitness club, and multiple event spaces for entertaining guests.  

In keeping with Ward Village’s commitment to honor the cultural significance of the area, Kōʻula was named by Sig Zane Designs. “The literal translation of Kōʻula means ‘red sugar cane’ evoking the similarity between the structural columns and the sugar cane leaves. The name pays homage to the many varieties found in ancient Kaka’ako, marking it a prosperous and abundant region,” said Sig Zane.  

As the largest LEED-ND Platinum-certified master plan development in the country and the only one in Hawaiʻi, Ward Village is at the forefront of sustainable community development and will feature public amenities at a scale not offered by any other urban development in the state. 

Ward Village was named “Master Planned Community of the Year” by the National Association of Home Builders. This recent recognition comes on the heels of Ward Village being named “Best-Planned Community in the United States” by Architectural Digest, and the “Best Mixed-Use Project” and “Best Community Site Plan” at the 54th Annual Gold Nugget Awards presented by PCBC, the largest annual homebuilding trade show in the Western United States.

For more information, visit wvtest.wpengine.com.

Click here for high-resolution images. Credit: Studio Gang.

Click here for a PDF version of this news release.

PRESS CONTACTS

Megan Tsuchida
Bennet Group Strategic Communications
808-286-3183
[email protected]

Andrea Galvin
Senior Director, Media Relations, Ward Village
808-426-7724
[email protected]