Ward Village Towers Have Commenced Construction
The Ilima and Melia residential towers will add 369 new homes to the 60-acre Honolulu neighborhood by 2030.
Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Construction
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Ward Village has officially broken ground on the Ilima and Melia residential towers in Honolulu. The project aims to modernize the former Ward Centre block while adding hundreds of new residential units and commercial space to the area.
Why it matters
These high-rise additions reflect a long-term commitment to urban density and development within the Honolulu master-planned community. By revitalizing the existing site, the developers seek to expand both residential capacity and commercial offerings for the city.
The project includes a 33-story tower with 148 residences and a 35-story tower with 221 homes. Construction will also introduce 20,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space to the 60-acre development.
The players
Howard Hughes Communities
This is a real estate development firm focused on master-planned communities across the United States.
Discovery Land Company
This organization specializes in developing luxury residential private club communities and resorts.
Re-use Hawai'i
This non-profit group focuses on salvaging building materials to reduce landfill waste through deconstruction services.
Hawai'i Architectural Foundation
This organization supports the advancement of architecture and design education throughout the state.
Purple Mai'a Foundation
This non-profit focuses on teaching technology and software development skills to Native Hawaiian youth.
The details
Howard Hughes Communities is partnering with Discovery Land Company to deliver these structures, which involved diverting 870 tons of construction waste through Re-use Hawai'i. Previous Ward Centre tenants, including Kamitoku Ramen, Johnny's Dog Spa, and Sweat + Soul, have relocated to facilitate the transition.
Timeline
Groundbreaking for the Ilima and Melia towers took place on September 29, 2026.
The two residential towers are expected to reach completion and open in 2030.
Market Landscape
The expansion follows the broader urban development strategy for the 60-acre master-planned neighborhood. This move positions the developers to compete for a larger share of the local luxury residential market while densifying the core urban district.
Residents should anticipate ongoing construction activity near the former Ward Centre block through 2030. Customers who previously frequented local shops like Kamitoku Ramen or Johnny's Dog Spa will need to visit their new relocated premises.
The takeaway
Large-scale urban redevelopment projects often require years of planning and complex logistics to manage existing businesses. Homebuyers and investors should track project timelines as new inventory alters the local housing supply.
Further reading
For more context on ongoing projects, visit the Construction section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Hawaiinewsnow.
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