Kakaʻako Makai
In 2012, OHA accepted 29 acres in Kaka‘ako Makai, valued at $200 million dollars, to settle a debt the State owed the Native Hawaiian community for unpaid public land trust revenue. OHA is a semi-autonomous state agency established by the Hawaiʻi Constitution and charged with advancing the well-being of the Native Hawaiian community. Like any landowner operating within the law, OHA has both the authority and the responsibility to determine how its lands can best fulfill their purpose. OHA carries a fiduciary obligation to steward these lands responsibly and productively for its beneficiaries and for Hawaiʻi as a whole.
Nearly two decades ago, the Hawaiʻi State Legislature imposed a residential moratorium in Kakaʻako Makai at a time when proposals centered on luxury condominiums aimed largely at out-of-state buyers rather than housing for local families. That moratorium prohibited all residential opportunities in the area.
Today, almost 20 years later, OHA’s nine parcels remain largely underutilized. The moratorium is still in place even as Hawaiʻi faces a severe housing shortage while public infrastructure already built to support this area sits underleveraged. OHA and its beneficiaries continue to call for revitalization that reflects both cultural stewardship and meaningful public return.
Conceptual drawing of oceanfront promenade
Latest News & Updates
2026 Environmental Assessment & Land Stewardship Facts
What Are the Geological Features of This Area?
Mostly Reclaimed Coastal Property.
OHA’s Kaka‘ako Makai properties are not incinerator ash landfill like Kakaka‘ako Waterfront Park was before it was developed. The land OHA own was formed through coastal reclamation and decades of harbor and industrial use—not municipal waste disposal. This includes dredged material, coral, rock, and construction fill used to create usable land over time.
Historical records show the area was used for:
- Warehouses
- Fishing operations
- Boatyards
- Fueling stations
- Government facilities
The environmental conditions reflect this rich urban history and are similar to other areas in Honolulu that have already been safely redeveloped.
Isn’t this area an old landfill?
- The former municipal landfill is buried beneath the 35-acre Kakaʻako Waterfront Park’s landscaped, rolling green hills. This area is owned and managed by City & County of Honolulu and lies between Kewalo Basin and the Point Panic area, south of ʻŌlomehani Street. North of ‘Ōlomehani Street: OHA’s parcels are primarily reclaimed and industrial land.
- OHA’s parcels are not the landfill itself. Nonetheless, OHA secured a $2 million dollar EPA Brownfields Assessment Grant to conduct additional environmental review. Responsible revitalization of Kaka‘ako Makai requires thorough environmental assessment and mitigation. The findings will guide next steps in coordination with the Department of Health.
Download OHA’s Environmental Assessment & Land Stewardship Fact Sheet
Environmental FAQs
Is all of Kaka‘ako Makai landfill?
No. Only a portion of the area, mainly south of ‘Ōlomehani Street, was used as landfill. Most OHA parcels are on reclaimed and industrial land—not landfill.
Why do people think it is all landfill?
This confusion comes from Kaka‘ako Waterfront Park, which is built on a former landfill. That park is owned by the City, and its conditions are often incorrectly applied to the entire area. The park is considered safe and families and the public use and enjoy the park.
Is the land being checked for safety?
Yes. OHA is conducting detailed environmental testing on all parcels using federal funding, with oversight from the state Department of Health.
Does landfill mean the land cannot be developed?
No. Land with past industrial use or landfill conditions can be safely developed when proper environmental controls are in place and the state gives its approval.
Has this already been done in this area?
Yes. Parcel D, where the popular 53 By the Sea restaurant is located, is on landfill-affected land. It was reviewed and approved by the Department of Health and is operating today.
Could contamination affect people or the ocean?
Studies have shown no significant impacts to the near-shore ocean environment. Groundwater in this area is naturally salty and not used for drinking, which reduces risk. Ongoing testing is mapping conditions to ensure safety.
Does land use planning mean construction is starting soon?
No. Environmental testing and State approval must happen after any land use planning. No development can proceed without meeting strict health and safety standards.
Has land like this been developed elsewhere in Honolulu?
Yes. Many areas in Kaka‘ako and Honolulu with similar conditions have been cleaned up and safely developed with proper oversight. Examples:
- Symphony Honolulu (Former industrial site in Kaka‘ako)
- Alia 888 Ala Moana (Former industrial site in Kaka‘ako)
- Iwilei Center (Former industrial site in Kaka‘ako)
- Capital Place (Former industrial site in Kaka‘ako)
- John A. Burns School of Medicine – University of Hawai‘i (Kaka‘ako, built immediately adjacent to OHA’s parcels on the same type of reclaimed coastal and industrial fill)
2026 Kakaʻako Makai FAQs
OHA had a choice to either accept or decline the Kakaʻako Makai lands at the time of the 2012 settlement. Knowing that residential use was prohibited at that time, why did OHA choose to accept the settlement agreement?
- The 2012 settlement resolved a long-standing debt owed to the Native Hawaiian community for unpaid public land trust revenues. The 29 acres in Kakaʻako Makai were conveyed as part of that resolution. These lands are Native Hawaiian trust lands and accepting them ensured they would remain in the hands of an entity constitutionally charged with advancing the well-being of the lāhui. Declining the lands would not have advanced the interests of Native Hawaiians. Stewarding them does.
- At the time, there was a clear understanding that the residential moratorium could be revisited. Then Governor Neil Abercrombie publicly committed to working with OHA to lift the prohibition so housing could be developed. Although that effort did not move forward after the change in administration, the long-term value of the land and its strategic location within an urban core supported by infrastructure made acceptance the responsible choice.
Does OHA have a master plan?
- OHA has studied its lands extensively but has not adopted a master plan under the current restrictions. A responsible master plan must be grounded in feasible land uses.
- Once residential and other mixed uses are restored, OHA will advance a comprehensive plan that balances housing, cultural space, economic sustainability, and public access.
Conceptual drawing of aerial view at sunset
How will OHA move forward in transforming these lands?
- For nearly two decades, the residential moratorium and rigid allowable uses have limited the financial feasibility of meaningful development. As a result, the lands have remained underutilized despite being located in one of the most infrastructure rich urban districts in the state.
- OHA is working through the Hawaiʻi Community Development Authority (HCDA) planning process to modernize the land use framework so these parcels can support a mixed-use community that includes housing, cultural space, and public amenities. With updated entitlements, OHA envisions a community that celebrates Native Hawaiian culture while addressing broader concerns such as environmental remediation, shoreline access, and long-term resilience.
How does OHA plan to overturn the residential moratorium?
- The Kakaʻako Makai lands that OHA owns are governed by the Hawaiʻi Community Development Authority (HCDA), the state redevelopment agency created in 1976 to revitalize underused urban areas, expand housing in the urban core, reduce suburban sprawl, and preserve agricultural lands through coordinated statewide planning.
- Public infrastructure investments by all Kaka‘ako landowners were made to support residential growth in this district. The HCDA process is the proper forum to ensure those investments produce measurable public return.
- Any change will occur through a transparent public process that HCDA oversees.
HCDA Area Plan Update for Kaka‘ako Makai
Will OHA provide affordable housing for Native Hawaiians?
- HCDA already requires affordable housing set asides for residential development in the district. If residential uses are restored, OHA intends to provide mixed-use community options, designed for local families and working residents.
- OHA’s Board of Trustees is in discussion with the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) regarding potential development of Lot I, which flanks the Ala Moana corridor. That project would serve beneficiaries of both agencies and reflects OHA’s commitment to partnership where it advances trust purposes.
How would DHHL provide housing on OHA’s Kaka‘ako Makai lands?
- DHHL has independent authority under state law to develop housing for its beneficiaries. Discussions regarding partnership reflect a shared goal of expanding housing opportunity for Native Hawaiians in the urban core.
- Any partnership would comply with applicable law and align with OHA’s fiduciary obligations.
Conceptual drawing of outdoor walking areas
Will development block ocean views?
- Any development must comply with HCDA height limits and Federal Aviation Administration requirements, which cap height at 200 feet. That limit is substantially lower than heights permitted on the mauka side of Ala Moana Boulevard. View impacts will be evaluated through the HCDA planning process.
Will shoreline access remain public?
- Nearly 68 acres of Kakaʻako Makai are publicly owned parks and open space managed by the City and County of Honolulu. OHA does not own shoreline parcels and supports preserving and enhancing public access.
What about traffic and parking?
- OHA owns 29 of approximately 170 acres that comprise Kakaʻako Makai. The majority of the land in the area remains public park space or state and city owned parcels.
- Kakaʻako Makai’s location near Downtown Honolulu, Ala Moana, and Waikīkī makes it one of the few areas where thoughtful mixed-use community revitalization near employment centers can help reduce commute distances.
- Any development must meet HCDA parking requirements and applicable transportation standards.
We do not want more people in Kakaʻako Makai. It is already crowded.
- Kakaʻako already contains the infrastructure, parks, transit access, and employment base needed to support a vibrant mixed-use district.
- Compared to the mauka side of Kakaʻako, density in Kakaʻako Makai remains significantly lower. Thoughtful and responsible activation can improve safety, increase activity and “eyes on the street,” and enhance public spaces while maintaining access to and enjoyment of the shoreline.
- As the constitutionally established advocate for Native Hawaiians, OHA believes strengthening Hawaiʻi means building in areas already supported by infrastructure, jobs, and services rather than pushing families farther away from opportunity and deeper into rural lands.
Share Your Manaʻo on the Future of Kakaʻako Makai!
The latest public comment period closed on April 7, 2026 – Results will be shared in the near future as well as future opportunities to share manaʻo.
The Hawaiʻi Community Development Authority (HCDA) has begun updating the Kakaʻako Makai Area Plan, which will guide the future of the shoreline area between Downtown Honolulu and Ala Moana. This planning process will help determine how the area is used in the years ahead, including parks, cultural spaces, shoreline access, and other community uses. As HCDA updates the area plan, beneficiary perspectives are an important part of the conversation. Hearing directly from the Native Hawaiian community helps ensure that decisions about the future of this area reflect the values and interests of those the trust was established to serve.
Mahalo for taking the time to share your thoughts and for helping ensure Native Hawaiian perspectives are part of this important planning process.
