Honolulu - Kakaako | #oahu #hawaii
Channel: Tim&MonicaUncharted
Date: 2024-01-07

Welcome to Honolulu’s new “it” place: Kaka‘ako. This is a rapidly growing urban neighborhood with a rich history that’s deeply rooted in industry, entrepreneurship and Hawaiian culture.

Back in the day, this was a thriving area of salt ponds and fishing villages, prized by native Hawaiians who valued salt for its versatility. In the 1800’s, Kaka‘ako began its transformation into an industrial and residential hub. The metal foundry and machine shop Honolulu Iron Works gave the neighborhood the momentum to become a community built on blue-collar work ethic and as families gathered and settled down, small stores, churches, schools and parks were built. Fast forward a century, and Kaka‘ako’s zoning changed from residential to commercial and warehouses, warehouses and small businesses made up most of the neighborhood.

Today, much of Kakaako has been transformed by “Our Kaka‘ako,” a residential and commercial project headed by Kamehameha Schools and Castle & Cooke Homes Hawaii Inc. The $60 million project plans to add nearly 200 homes and rental units, redeveloping properties for both residential and commercial space. Another major neighborhood changer is the Howard Hughes Corporation, which is revitalizing the community with Ward Village, a 60-acre master planned community with residences, businesses and recreational zones.  Walkability will become a priority, with new pedestrian crossways, streetscapes and green spaces, and a wide range of restaurants, shops, street art, art shows and more.