Highridge Costa Begins Construction on $333 Million Mayor Wright Phase

Honolulu’s housing stock is aging, with many public complexes dating back to the post-war era. On Thursday, state officials and developers broke ground on the first phase of the Mayor Wright Homes redevelopment in the Kalihi-Palama neighborhood.

The site, located near downtown Honolulu and bounded by King Street, Liliha Street, and Vineyard Boulevard, is the largest public housing project in Hawaii's history. The Hawaii Public Housing Authority and developer Highridge Costa are replacing a complex that has stood for nearly 75 years. The new development will contain seven times as many homes as the current site and will serve a mix of income levels rather than only very low-income residents.

Phase 1A, which is estimated to cost $333 million, marks the start of a larger $1.3 billion initiative. The full plan calls for more than 2,400 new rental homes ranging from studios to five-bedroom units. These will be distributed across 10 towers and will include public housing units, condominiums for sale, and commercial space. More than half of the units will be reserved for tenants earning less than 80% of the area median income. Later phases will extend to households earning up to 100% of the area median income, a threshold of roughly $150,000 annually for a family of four.

Hakim Ouansafi, executive director of the housing authority, stated that the project aims to dismantle barriers between different income groups. He noted that the state cannot solve future housing issues by relying on past methods. "Public housing should never mean second class housing," Ouansafi said. Current residents displaced by construction are being relocated and will have priority to return to their new units.

Gov. Josh Green emphasized that stable housing allows residents to focus on education, food security, and health care. Moe Mohanna, president of Highridge Costa Development Company, described the initiative as a legacy for the state. Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi linked the project to the arrival of the Skyline rail line, noting that the development will be within walking distance of the planned Iwilei rail station.

The redevelopment includes four acres of public parks and recreational space. The first building is scheduled to open in 2029. The full 15-year project will transform the 15-acre site into a mixed-income community with commercial space and green areas.