WARD VILLAGE® BREAKS GROUND ON ‘ILIMA AND MELIA
Two new residential buildings will bring 369 homes and approximately 20,000 square feet of commercial and retail space with new pedestrian connections to Ka Lei Park
HONOLULU (September 28, 2026) – Ward Village, the award-winning 60-acre master planned community in the heart of Honolulu, broke ground on ʻIlima Ward Village and Melia Ward Village, two residential buildings that will bring 369 homes and approximately 20,000 square feet of ground-floor commercial and retail space to the 60-acre Honolulu neighborhood. The projects will also introduce landscaped pedestrian connections linking the historic IBM Building with Ka Lei Park, continuing Ward Village’s investment in a walkable neighborhood with homes, shops, dining and open spaces.
“ʻIlima and Melia represent another important step in our long-term commitment to Honolulu,” said Doug Johnstone, Head of National Development and President, Hawaiʻi Region for Howard Hughes Communities®. “Alongside new homes and businesses, these projects will create landscaped connections between the historic IBM Building and Ka Lei Park. Our team has thoughtfully planned how the buildings, streets and open spaces work together to enrich daily life throughout the neighborhood.”
A native botanical garden pathway designed by VITA Planning & Landscape Architecture will connect the two buildings and link the IBM Building to Ka Lei Park. Howard Hughes Communities preserved the IBM Building through a $24 million restoration completed in 2015. The historic building will serve as a gateway to the pathway and its connections to the neighborhood’s parks, streets and daily amenities.
ʻIlima will feature 148 residences across 33 stories, while Melia will include 221 residences across 35 stories. Howard Hughes Communities is partnering with Discovery Land Company on the residential experience at the two buildings.
“Our vision for ʻIlima and Melia brings together distinctive homes, the experience we are creating with Discovery Land Company, and the established neighborhood that makes Ward Village special,” said Bonnie Wedemeyer, Executive Vice President, National Condominium Sales & Strategy for Howard Hughes Communities. “The strong response from buyers reflects their confidence in that vision. Beginning construction is an important step in delivering on the commitment our team has made to our future residents.”
Both buildings were designed by Robert A.M. Stern Architects, with AHL serving as local executive architect and VITA Planning & Landscape Architecture leading landscape design. The architecture draws inspiration from early 20th-century Honolulu landmarks, including the Honolulu Museum of Art, the Alexander & Baldwin Building and the Dillingham Transportation Center. Shaded walkways, lanais, landscaped gardens and native plantings connect the design to Hawaiʻi’s climate and traditions of indoor-outdoor living.
The groundbreaking was marked with a combined $30,000 in charitable gifts, providing $15,000 each to the Hawaii Architectural Foundation and Purple Mai‘a Foundation. The gifts will support the Hawaii Architectural Foundation’s architecture education and opportunities for future architects, as well as Purple Mai‘a Foundation’s culturally grounded programs helping Native Hawaiian and local students build skills in technology and innovation.
“We’re grateful for Ward Village’s support as we continue creating pathways for the next generation of culturally grounded, community serving technology makers and problem solvers,” said Nicole Brodie, vice president of operations at Purple Mai‘a Foundation. “This investment will help expand opportunities for our keiki to build technical skills and apply them to address the needs of Hawai‘i’s communities.”
Ahead of redevelopment of the former Ward Centre block, Kamitoku Ramen, Johnny’s Dog Spa and Sweat + Soul relocated to renovated spaces elsewhere in Ward Village. Ward Village also worked with longtime partner Re-use Hawaiʻi to salvage reusable materials from Ward Centre and separate concrete, steel, asphalt and other materials for recycling and reuse. Across previous Ward Village projects, the partnership has diverted more than 870 tons of waste.
ʻIlima and Melia continue the phased development of Ward Village, alongside Kalae and The Launiu Ward Village, which are currently under construction, and the planned Mahana Ward Village. Together, these projects advance the neighborhood’s long-term plan to connect new homes with open spaces, local businesses and places to gather.
Media Kit (courtesy of Ward Village)
About Ward Village®
Ward Village is an award-winning Howard Hughes community in the heart of Honolulu, located between downtown and Waikīkī. Named “Best Planned Community in the United States” by Architectural Digest, the 60-acre Ward Village has evolved into a thriving mixed-use neighborhood, combining expansive open green spaces with striking architecture to deliver high-quality housing, culture and arts, and popular shopping and dining options. Honoring the distinct history of its land, Ward Village is a LEED-ND Platinum-certified master planned community, committed to responsible, sustainable development and investing in public benefits and amenities for the Honolulu community. Ward Village quickly sold out its first eight mixed-use residential towers—Waiea®, Anaha®, Ae‘o, Ke Kilohana®, ʻAʻaliʻi®, Kō‘ula®, Victoria Place®, and Ulana Ward Village®. New residential buildings in development or under construction include The Park Ward Village®, Kalae, The Launiu Ward Village®, ‘Ilima Ward Village and Melia Ward Village. For more information, visit WardVillage.com.
About Howard Hughes Communities®
Howard Hughes Communities, the real estate platform of Howard Hughes Holdings Inc. (NYSE: HHH), develops, owns, and operates the nation’s premier large-scale master planned communities and mixed-use developments. The company’s award-winning assets include The Woodlands®, Bridgeland®, and The Woodlands Hills® in Greater Houston; Summerlin® in Las Vegas; Teravalis™ in Greater Phoenix; Ward Village® in Honolulu; and Merriweather District in Columbia, Maryland. The Howard Hughes Communities portfolio is strategically positioned to meet and accelerate development based on market demand, resulting in one of the strongest real estate platforms in the country. Dedicated to innovative placemaking, the company is recognized for its ongoing commitment to design excellence and to the cultural life of its communities. For additional information, visit communities.howardhughes.com.
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