Kaka’ako : A Neighborhood On The Rise

On the island of Oahu, just on the border of downtown Honolulu, you’ll find the ever transforming and growing neighborhood of Kaka’ako. 

An area that used to be nothing more than plain commercial buildings and warehouses is now rapidly becoming one of the best residential areas on the island and home to the most recent development project, the Ililani Condo and the exciting Koula project in Ward Village. 

With Ala Moana just to the east, the business district of Honolulu to the west, and 30 acres of oceanfront to the south, Kaka’ako has all of the convenience of the city without sacrificing any of the luxuries of easy island living. 

In the past few years, over 20 new condos have been planned in Kaka’ako. Many of these are currently under construction or already completed, but there’s still more to come.

The majority of these new developments have taken place under the Ward Village plan by The Howard Hughes Corporation, and under the Our Kaka’ako plan by Kamehameha Schools.

These strategic projects haven’t just been responsible for the new highrises going up all over Kaka’ako - they have also improved local parks and walkways, and added desirable retail space to make the whole area as accessible and convenient as possible. The neighborhood is perfect for those who prefer to walk or bike nearly anywhere. 

But the growth doesn’t stop there - by using specific building materials, transport systems, and water plans, Kaka’ako is on a mission to set a new standard of sustainable and environmentally friendly living for the island, and for the world.

This neighborhood has cultivated a celebration of art and local culture into its forward thinking design, food options, and entertainment choices.  With plenty of working, playing, shopping, and dining options it’s easy to see why more and more people from around the globe are now calling Kaka’ako home. 

Things To Do In Kaka’ako

Ward Village is, hands down, one of the best places to shop and dine in Hawaii - and maybe the world.

The village is the home of the island’s best cinema, Ward Entertainment Center, and it also holds the world famous Ala Moana shopping center, the largest outdoor shopping mall in the world.

You can find many top notch dining experiences here as well, such as Merriman’s Honolulu and Piggy Smalls. With so many places to experience, you’ll be sure to find a reason to spend a day in Ward Village again and again. 

Another trendy shopping, entertainment, and dining area in Kaka’ako is SALT - an entire pedestrian friendly city block that’s rich in culture and full of unique dining and entertainment options. 

At the waterfront park in Kaka’ako, you can enjoy a seaside sunset at any of the grassy, palm lined picnic areas. There are also plenty of paths along the water for biking, running, or just strolling.

If you go a short ways to Ala Moana Beach Park, you’ll find the perfect location for playing in the white sands. If you love to surf or paddleboard, this will be your place. The water here is an especially popular open ocean swimming spot with the locals. 

Condos For Sale In Kaka’ako:

Whether you’re looking for an affordable housing condo in Kaka’ako, or you want the most luxurious high rise that money can buy, there’s an option here for everyone. 

Here’s some of my favorite Kakaako condos: 

Anaha

If it’s sophistication you’re looking for, you’ll want to take a look at Anaha. This 311 unit building has a wide array of high end residences, plenty of exciting amenities, and an impressive cantilevered lap pool suspended 80 feet in the air.

Symphony Honolulu

If you get excited about impressive architecture, you’ll love Symphony Honolulu. Scraping the blue island skies, this 400 foot high tower has some of the most dramatic ocean and mountain views in Oahu - as well as top notch condos with plenty of luxurious  extras. 

The Collection Honolulu

The Collection is especially unique because it’s more of a miniature town than a standard condominium. With 4 structures - The Tower, The Annex Tower, The Lofts, and The Townhomes- there’s a perfect fit for every kind of home buyer. And as expected with such an innovative new condo, the amenities are both unique and impressive. 

Keauhou Place

The Keauhou Place offers both townhomes and condos in a phenomenal location. With spacious floor plans, panoramic island views, and high end finishes, this condo magnifies the very best features of urban island life. 

Ae’o Ward Village

Nicknamed the Whole Foods Project, Ae'o Ward Village is a one of a kind condo has a huge two story Whole Foods on the first level, complete with a covered, private access for residents. 

In addition to this convenient feature, Ae’o has very impressive ocean and mountain views from the gorgeous condos themselves, or from the rooftop terrace.

801 South

801 South Street is made up of 2 towers, A and B. This condo was originally created to offer a lower priced housing option to Honolulu residents. While the buildings are strictly no frills by design, they certainly have their cost advantages. The private units are all new, have a clean design, and are a great entry level investment for people who want island living without a high price tag. 

Kapiolani Residence

Kapiolani Residence is another lower frills condo offering affordable housing with fee simple ownership. The extras are slim, but the price is great. As an added bonus, each condo has its own lanai- some even wrap around- and many have those coveted ocean or mountain views. 

Sky Ala Moana 

Technically located in the Ala Moana neighborhood, we're including Sky Ala Moana due to it's close proximity to Ward Village and all the Kakaako neighborhood amenities. Sky Ala Moana is a beautiful, high-end luxury condo building, but it’s probably best known for being home to the astounding Sky Terrace. Sky Terrace is a large eight-floor deck that residents love to use for entertaining, swimming, cooking out, or watching movies under the stars. 

With all of its bustling activity, serene outdoor spaces, and new construction, it’s clear that Kaka’ako is one of the best up and coming places to love, live, and invest in Hawaii.

If you would like to inquire about owning a home in Kaka’ako, contact me at 808-203-7424 or via email at [email protected].

About John Gephart

John Gephart specializes in Oahu real estate and new development condos in Kakaako and Ward Village. Call him at 808.203.7424 or email to [email protected] to set up a private condo showing.

You can read more about John by clicking here. 

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