Kakaako and Ward Village new construction condo pipeline
Kakaʻako continues to be one of the most active areas for new condominium development in Honolulu, and if you are considering buying here, it is important to understand what is still coming rather than looking only at the buildings that are already complete. New towers can change the skyline, views, amenities, traffic patterns and future competition for both new and resale condos, so the development pipeline is an important part of the buying decision.
As of September 2026, there are several significant projects either under construction, selling, preparing for sales or still in the planning stages across Ward Village and Our Kakaʻako. Some are designed for the luxury market, while others include a substantial number of reserved or workforce residences. They are also at very different stages, which matters if you are deciding whether to buy now or wait.
Ward Village is entering its next phase
Ward Village is part of Kakaʻako, but its master-planned development makes the new construction pipeline here somewhat different from the rest of the neighborhood. Several of the towers that defined the first major phase of Ward Village are now complete, including Waiea, Anaha, Aeʻo, Aʻaliʻi, Kōʻula, Victoria Place and The Park Ward Village. The next group of residences will continue filling in the remaining portions of the master plan, including some of the most significant projects still to come.
For buyers, this means that the question is no longer simply whether Ward Village is a good place to buy. It is about which phase of the community you want to be part of and what the future development around your building could mean for you.
The location of a residence within the master plan can be particularly important. A building that has an open view today may eventually have another tower nearby, while a residence positioned along the future park or waterfront-facing portions of the development may have a very different long-term outlook.
The Launiu Ward Village
The Launiu is one of the newest residential additions to Ward Village and is positioned along Ala Moana Boulevard near the western end of the community. The project includes a 396-residence tower plus 90 podium residences, with studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom floor plans. The building was designed by Arquitectonica, with interiors by ODADA and landscape architecture by VITA Planning & Landscape Architecture.
What makes The Launiu particularly interesting is its position within the evolving western portion of Ward Village. For buyers considering a residence here, I would pay close attention to the specific stack and how it relates to the surrounding buildings, parks and future development rather than evaluating the project simply as another new tower.
The Launiu is expected to complete in 2028, so buyers considering it are making a decision about both the residence and the future version of Ward Village they will eventually move into.
Kalae
Kalae is another major addition to the front row of Ward Village and is one of the developments that most directly affects how buyers should think about ocean views in this part of Kakaʻako.
The project includes one-, two- and three-bedroom residences and is designed around its position near the shoreline, Victoria Ward Park and the Pacific. Its architecture and amenity design are intended to create a more residential, resort-oriented experience, with multiple pools, water features and landscaped courtyards.
For a buyer comparing Kalae with an existing resale condo, the interesting question is not simply whether Kalae is newer. It is whether the particular residence gives you something that would be difficult to replicate in the resale market, such as a certain view, floor plan, outdoor space or position within the community.
Kalae is expected to be completed in 2026, putting it in a very different category from projects that are still several years away.
Mahana
Mahana is one of the most important projects to watch because it is expected to be the final residential tower in the Ward Village master plan. The project is planned for approximately 451 residences and will sit along Victoria Ward Park, with views toward the park and Pacific horizon.
The fact that it is expected to be the final tower makes Mahana particularly significant for buyers who want to understand what Ward Village will ultimately look like when the major residential development is complete.
It also creates an interesting comparison with resale inventory. A buyer who wants to live in the finished Ward Village community may not necessarily need to wait for the final tower. There are already completed buildings with established amenities, landscaping and surrounding retail, and in some cases a resale residence may offer a better combination of price, size and immediate occupancy.
Mahana is therefore worth watching, but waiting for the final tower is not automatically the best strategy for every buyer.
ʻIlima and Melia
The next major luxury development along the Ala Moana Boulevard side of Ward Village is ʻIlima and Melia, two highly anticipated towers designed by Robert A.M. Stern Architects. They represent a significant shift toward the ultra-luxury end of the Ward Village market.
ʻIlima is planned with 148 residences and is being positioned around expansive estate-style residences, sweeping views and a private owners club. Melia will include 221 residences and is designed around gracious living spaces, substantial views and a more traditional luxury aesthetic.
These buildings are important not only because of their price point, but because of their location. They occupy one of the most prominent remaining areas of Ward Village, near the ocean and Ala Moana Beach Park. The eventual development will also change the relationship between some of the existing towers and the surrounding streets and public spaces.
For buyers currently considering Waiea, Victoria Place or other front-row residences, I would want to understand exactly what will be built nearby before making a decision based on today’s view.
What is happening in Our Kakaʻako?
The new construction story extends beyond Ward Village. Our Kakaʻako, the master-planned community developed by Kamehameha Schools and its development partners, is entering another major phase of development as well.
The projects here have a different mix of ownership opportunities, with a combination of market-rate, reserved and workforce housing. That creates a very different landscape from the ultra-luxury projects along the front row of Ward Village, but it also means there are more types of residences entering the market.
For buyers who are primarily interested in luxury condos, that does not make these projects irrelevant. New residential towers can affect surrounding inventory, future competition, parking, traffic and views, particularly for buyers considering an existing condo nearby.
Ālia
Ālia is one of the most significant newer projects in Our Kakaʻako and is now approaching completion. The 39-story tower is located near SALT and includes a combination of market-rate and reserved housing.
For someone who wants a newer building but does not necessarily need to be in Ward Village, Ālia provides an interesting alternative. Its location puts residents close to SALT, restaurants, shops and the broader Our Kakaʻako neighborhood, while the building itself offers newer construction and contemporary amenities.
Because it is much further along than some of the other projects in the pipeline, buyers who like the idea of new construction but do not want to wait several years should pay attention to what becomes available as residences are completed and begin entering the resale market.
Kahuina
Kahuina is another major Our Kakaʻako development, with a substantial number of residences planned across a 43-story tower. The project includes both market-rate and reserved housing, making it quite different from the luxury projects planned along the Ward Village waterfront.
Its scale is significant enough that it will become another important part of the Kakaʻako skyline and will add a large amount of residential inventory to the neighborhood.
For buyers looking at nearby resale buildings, this is exactly the type of project I would consider during the due diligence process. New construction can create additional competition when owners eventually sell, but it can also bring new retail, infrastructure and activity into an area. Whether that is positive or negative depends heavily on the building and its location.
Waiakoa and Kaliʻu
There are additional projects planned within the broader Our Kakaʻako master plan, including Waiakoa and Kaliʻu. These are further out in the development timeline, so the details and timing are more subject to change than projects that are already under construction.
That distinction is important when talking about future Kakaʻako development. A rendering or master plan is not the same thing as a building that is already under construction, and I would never want a buyer to make a major purchasing decision based solely on a conceptual future project.
For an existing condo buyer, however, these developments are still worth knowing about because they can help explain why certain views, parcels and streets may look very different several years from now.
Why future development matters when buying a resale condo
This is one of the areas where I think buyers need to look beyond the MLS listing.
When you buy a resale condo in Kakaʻako, you are not just buying what you can see from the lanai today. You are buying into a neighborhood that is still being built. That means I want to know what is on the surrounding parcels, what is approved, what is proposed and, when possible, what the eventual building heights and locations are expected to be.
This can be particularly important when comparing views. A unit with a beautiful open city or ocean outlook may command a premium today, but if another tower is planned directly in front of it, that premium needs to be evaluated differently.
The same principle applies to privacy, natural light and noise. A quiet street today may become a more active construction zone tomorrow, while a currently undeveloped parcel may eventually become a park, retail space or another residential tower.
This is why I look at the building, stack and surrounding development together rather than treating the view description in the MLS as the complete story.
Should you buy new construction or resale?
There is no universal answer, and the right choice depends on what you value most.
New construction gives you the opportunity to choose a residence before completion, select from available floor plans and potentially be the first owner of the property. You may also get newer finishes, newer building systems and amenities designed around contemporary expectations.
The tradeoff is that you are buying into a future building rather than something you can fully experience today. Completion dates can change, surrounding construction may continue for years and it can be harder to understand exactly how a view or neighborhood will feel until everything is built.
A resale condo gives you the advantage of seeing the actual residence and building before purchasing. You can walk the hallways, use the amenities, look at the view from the exact unit, understand the parking situation and get a much better sense of how the building operates day to day. You may also find opportunities where the resale price compares favorably with current developer pricing.
For some buyers, especially those purchasing a second home, that certainty can be worth a great deal.
The Kakaʻako skyline is not finished yet
The most important takeaway is that Kakaʻako is still evolving. Ward Village has several major residential projects remaining, while Our Kakaʻako is entering another substantial phase of development. At the same time, many of the neighborhood’s existing buildings are now established enough that buyers can evaluate them based on years of actual performance rather than renderings and projections.
That creates an interesting opportunity for buyers. You can choose to be part of the next wave of new construction, or you can look at the resale market and potentially find a residence in a building that already has an established track record.
Either way, I would not evaluate a Kakaʻako condo in isolation. The building matters, but so does the parcel next door, the tower across the street, the future view corridor and what the neighborhood is expected to look like several years from now.
If you’re considering buying a condo in Kakaʻako or Ward Village, I can help you compare new construction with resale options and, just as importantly, understand what the surrounding development could mean for the specific building and residence you’re considering.
Your Top Hawaiʻi Luxury Condo Specialist
Lucy Heath
Lucy Heath is a Real Estate Advisor at Compass and the founder of Luxury Condos Hawaiʻi, recognized for her expertise in refined condominium living in Kakaʻako and Ala Moana. She has lived in Ward Village for over six years, witnessing its transformation from the earliest stages of development into one of Honolulu's most sought-after neighborhoods.
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