2,400 new homes to rise in Kalihi as state starts $333 million first phase

State officials and community leaders broke ground on Thursday for the first phase of the Mayor Wright Homes redevelopment in Honolulu. The 15-acre site in the Kalihi-Palama neighborhood marks the start of the largest public housing project in Hawaii's history.

The Hawai'i Public Housing Authority and developer Highridge Costa will replace the nearly 75-year-old complex. The new development is designed to hold more than 2,400 rental units across 10 towers. This represents seven times the capacity of the current site and includes a mix of income levels rather than serving only very low-income residents.

Phase 1A will cost $333 million, according to the housing authority. The total project was estimated at $1.3 billion in 2017. The final design includes studios to five-bedroom units, condominiums for sale, commercial space, and four acres of public parks. The site is bounded by King Street, Liliha Street, and Vineyard Boulevard.

Housing access is a central feature of the plan. More than half of the units are reserved for tenants earning less than 80% of the area median income. Later phases will serve households earning up to 100% of the area median income, a threshold of roughly $150,000 for a family of four. Current residents displaced by construction will have priority to return to the new buildings.

Hakim Ouansafi, executive director of the housing authority, stated that the project aims to change how public housing is perceived. "Public housing should never mean second class housing," he said. He added that the state must move beyond past approaches to address future housing needs.

Gov. Josh Green and Mayor Rick Blangiardi emphasized the project's link to the upcoming Skyline rail line. The development is positioned within walking distance of the planned Iwilei rail station. Green called housing a foundation for health and education, while Blangiardi described the combination of transit and housing as a historic step for the state.

Moe Mohanna, president of Highridge Costa Development Company, called the initiative a legacy for the state. The first building is scheduled to open in 2029, with the full redevelopment expected to take 15 years to complete.