Comparing Waiea and Victoria Place in Ward Village

If you are looking for a luxury condo in Kakaʻako, two buildings that inevitably come up are Waiea and Victoria Place.

Both are located in Ward Village, both sit along Ala Moana Boulevard with exceptional access to the ocean and Ala Moana Beach Park, and both are among the most prestigious condominium buildings in Honolulu. They also command prices well above the broader Kakaʻako condo market.

But despite the similarities, Waiea and Victoria Place are not interchangeable.

Waiea was the first residential tower developed in Ward Village and has had several years to establish itself as one of Honolulu's premier luxury buildings. Victoria Place is newer, having been completed at the end of 2024, and brings a different architectural style, a much larger amenity package, and the appeal of essentially brand-new construction.

I have lived in Kakaʻako for more than seven years and specialize in Kakaʻako and Ala Moana condominium real estate. I frequently help buyers compare properties at this level, and one of the most important things to understand is that the decision between Waiea and Victoria Place is not simply about which building has more amenities or which one is newer. It is about what matters most to you as an owner.

Waiea vs. Victoria Place at a glance

Waiea: The established luxury benchmark in Ward Village

Waiea was the first residential tower in Ward Village and remains one of the flagship buildings in the community.

Designed by James K.M. Cheng and completed in 2016, the 36-story tower has a distinctive glass façade and approximately 171 residences, including villas, penthouses and larger luxury floor plans. The building occupies a front-row position along Ala Moana Boulevard, directly across from Ala Moana Beach Park and Kewalo Harbor.

That location is one of Waiea's defining advantages.

You are not simply buying into Ward Village. You are buying into one of the community's original front-row buildings, where the relationship to the ocean and park is a major part of the property's appeal.

Waiea also has a relatively intimate feel compared with Victoria Place. With approximately half as many residences, it has a more boutique character, which can appeal to buyers who value privacy and exclusivity.

What makes Waiea special?

The residences themselves are a major part of the appeal.

Standard residences feature approximately 9'6" ceilings, floor-to-ceiling glass, hardwood and stone flooring, European cabinetry, Miele appliances, gas cooking, wine refrigerators, and high-end bathroom finishes. Larger villas and penthouses have even higher ceilings and substantially larger floor plans.

The building's amenity package is also extensive. Residents have access to an infinity-edge pool, cabanas, fitness and wellness facilities, an indoor golf simulator, theater, private dining spaces, a chef's kitchen, guest suites, children's areas, a dog park, library and sunset lounge.

But what I think is particularly important about Waiea is that the building has had time to establish its identity.

It is no longer an untested new development. Buyers can look at years of sales, resale performance, maintenance history, and actual owner experience. For some buyers, that established track record is more valuable than having the newest possible construction.

Victoria Place: The newest ultra-luxury option

Victoria Place occupies an equally compelling position in Ward Village.

Completed at the end of 2024, the 400-foot tower sits in the first row between Waiea and Victoria Ward Park. It has approximately 350 residences, making it considerably larger than Waiea, and its architecture was designed by Solomon Cordwell Buenz with interiors intended to evoke a contemporary interpretation of old Hawaii.

For buyers seeking the newest luxury building in this part of Kakaʻako, Victoria Place has an obvious advantage.

Everything is newer. The residences, common areas, mechanical systems, and amenity spaces were designed and delivered much more recently, and the building feels distinctly contemporary.

But the biggest differentiator may actually be the amenities.

Victoria Place has an enormous amenity package

Victoria Place has more than 64,000 square feet of recreation space on its fifth floor, along with additional entertaining space at ground level. The building has three pools, including an infinity pool and lap pool, as well as fitness and wellness facilities, steam and sauna rooms, treatment spaces, private dining, a wine room, movie theater, guest suites, and landscaped outdoor areas.

One of the features I find particularly interesting is how the amenity deck is divided into separate areas. The building was designed so that different portions of the amenity spaces serve different purposes, from wellness and exercise to entertaining and relaxation.

For a buyer who intends to spend a lot of time at home and genuinely use the building's facilities, this can be a significant advantage.

Victoria Place also offers something Waiea cannot: brand-new construction.

For some buyers, that alone carries a lot of weight.

Which building has better ocean views?

This is where the answer becomes much more nuanced.

Both buildings have exceptional ocean-facing residences because of their front-row positions in Ward Village. Waiea sits directly along Ala Moana Boulevard with Ala Moana Beach Park and the ocean beyond, while Victoria Place is also positioned on the front row.

But I would never evaluate the view solely based on the building's name. Within both buildings, the exact stack, floor, and orientation matter enormously. A residence looking directly toward Diamond Head and the Pacific will have a very different view profile from one facing the city or Ewa. A higher floor may offer a more expansive view, while a particular lower-floor residence may have a better relationship to the park and ocean.

This is one of the reasons I always recommend looking at the individual residence rather than simply choosing a building based on its reputation.

If your primary objective is an exceptional ocean view, I would compare the specific stacks and available residences in both buildings before deciding.

Which building has better amenities?

If amenities are your primary consideration, Victoria Place has the edge in scale and variety.

Its recreation deck is exceptionally large, with multiple pools, extensive wellness facilities, dining and entertaining spaces, guest suites and landscaped areas. The building was designed around the idea that residents could spend a significant amount of their leisure time within the property itself.

That does not mean Waiea's amenities are lacking. Quite the opposite. Waiea offers an impressive range of resort-style amenities, including an infinity pool, cabanas, a fitness center, a golf simulator, a theater, private dining, guest suites, a dog park, and resident lounges.

The difference is more about scale and style. Waiea's amenities feel consistent with its more boutique, established luxury positioning.

Victoria Place feels more like a private residential club, with a larger range of spaces and activities.

If you rarely use the pool, gym or entertaining facilities, that difference may not justify paying a premium. If you expect to spend a lot of time at home, it may be much more important.

Which building has better residences?

Again, this depends on what you are looking for. Waiea's residences are known for generous proportions, high ceilings, and luxury finishes. The standard ceiling height is approximately 9'6", with higher ceilings in select villas and penthouses. The building also has a relatively broad range of floor plans, including residences from approximately 1,139 square feet through much larger penthouses.

Victoria Place has a different mix of floor plans. Typical tower floors have 10 residences, with standard ceiling heights of approximately 8'8" and 10-foot ceilings on the 39th and 40th floors. There are also combination residences and larger layouts at the upper end of the building.

This is one area where I think buyers should resist making assumptions. A larger condo in Waiea may be the better choice for one buyer, while a particular Victoria Place floor plan may be better for another. The orientation, layout, number of bedrooms, parking, and view can matter considerably more than the building's overall reputation.

Which building is more exclusive?

This is one of the more interesting differences. Waiea has approximately 171 residences, while Victoria Place has approximately 350. That does not necessarily mean Waiea is quieter or that Victoria Place feels crowded. In fact, Victoria Place was designed with a very substantial amount of amenity and common space. But there is something inherently appealing about Waiea's smaller scale.

If you are purchasing at the ultra-luxury level and value a more boutique environment, fewer residences, and a sense of belonging to an established luxury building, Waiea may have the advantage.

If you prefer having an enormous amenity package and do not mind a larger building, Victoria Place may be more appealing.

What about maintenance fees?

Luxury condominium living in Honolulu comes with significant ongoing ownership costs, which buyers should understand before comparing properties.

Waiea's maintenance fees vary substantially by residence depending on size and other factors. Recent listings illustrate monthly association costs in the several-thousand-dollar range for larger residences. For example, one 1,880-square-foot Waiea residence listed in 2026 showed monthly HOA dues of approximately $3,765.

Victoria Place also has substantial monthly ownership costs. Current building information indicates maintenance fees of approximately $1.98 per square foot, with the exact amount depending on the residence and applicable charges.

These numbers are important, but I would not recommend choosing between the buildings based solely on the lowest monthly maintenance fee.

You need to understand what the fee covers, the building's reserves, insurance, amenities, utilities, and the association's overall financial health. A higher maintenance fee can sometimes reflect a much more extensive amenity package or higher operating costs, while a lower fee does not necessarily mean a better financial proposition.

What about renting out the condo?

Neither building should be approached as a short-term vacation-rental property. Kakaʻako is not a short-term rental market, and buyers considering rental income should generally focus on longer-term residential tenancy. The individual building's rules also need to be reviewed before purchasing.

This is particularly important for buyers who live outside Hawaii or overseas and expect to use the condo part-time.

A property that looks attractive as an investment on paper can have a very different financial profile once you account for maintenance fees, property taxes, management, insurance, and the permitted rental strategy.

Waiea vs. Victoria Place: Which should you buy?

For me, the decision comes down to what you value most.

Choose Waiea if you are drawn to:

• A more boutique luxury building
• Fewer residences
• An established luxury reputation
• Larger and more generously proportioned residences
• High ceilings
• Exceptional ocean and Diamond Head views
• A front-row Ward Village location
• A building with an established resale history
• Choose Victoria Place if you are drawn to:
• Brand-new construction
• A very extensive amenity package
• Multiple pools and large recreation areas
• Modern wellness and entertaining facilities
• A newer, contemporary building environment
• A larger residential community
• The appeal of being one of the newest ultra-luxury towers in Honolulu

Neither is objectively better. For one buyer, the established character and smaller scale of Waiea will be the deciding factor. For another, Victoria Place's new construction and enormous amenity offering will make more sense.

And for some buyers, the decision may ultimately come down to the individual condo. A particularly well-positioned residence in Victoria Place could be more compelling than a less desirable residence in Waiea, and vice versa.

What I would look at before choosing

If you are genuinely deciding between these two buildings, I would compare more than the asking price. I would look at the exact floor and stack, view, interior square footage, floor plan, number of parking stalls, storage, maintenance fees, recent comparable sales, and the building's financials.

I would also consider how you intend to use the property. If this is your full-time residence, your priorities may be very different from someone buying a second home in Honolulu. If you plan to spend only a few months a year here, building services, security, guest accommodations and ease of ownership may carry more weight.

And if you are thinking about resale, I would pay particular attention to scarcity. A rare floor plan, exceptional view, or unusually large residence can have a very different resale profile from a more common unit in the same building.

Thinking about buying or selling in Waiea or Victoria Place?

These are two of the most specialized condo markets in Honolulu, and I believe the best advice comes from someone who understands the buildings at the unit level rather than simply the broader Honolulu market.

I specialize in Kakaʻako and Ala Moana condominium real estate and have lived in Kakaʻako for more than seven years. I can help you compare the individual residences, recent comparable sales, views, floor plans, and building characteristics so you can determine which property actually makes the most sense for you.

If you are considering selling, the same building-specific knowledge is important. Pricing a Waiea or Victoria Place residence is not simply a matter of looking at the last sale in the building. The floor, stack, view, condition, size, and current competing inventory all need to be considered.

Thinking about buying or selling in Waiea or Victoria Place? Contact me for a building-specific analysis of the current market.

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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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