How do you create a new kind of neighborhood in the heart of Honolulu? First, bring together the past, present and future in a way that is unique to the spirit of Kaka‘ako and Hawai‘i. Second, embrace the qualities that are so important to people today, from a diversity of housing to economic viability to environmental stewardship.

The Master Plan for the Ward Neighborhood is a long-range plan of 20-plus years that will evolve over time to fulfill the needs of the community. It follows the guidelines set forth in the Mauka Area Plan of the Hawai‘i Community Development Authority.

The Central Plaza will reach out toward Kewalo Basin and the Ko‘olaus, providing inspiration for all who live, work and play in this vibrant Neighborhood. Two additional public plazas will be located on the Diamond Head and Ewa ends of the community. Auahi Street will be transformed into a thoroughfare that is both intimate and grand, ideal for strolling, window shopping and outdoor dining, shaded by a large canopy of street trees. These are the cornerstones of a community that will become favorite gathering places for shoppers, visitors, and residents.

Hawai‘i’s multicultural diversity will be celebrated in Ward Neighborhood. Here will be a place to raise a family or to grow an international business. Residents and visitors–people of all ages and incomes–will be part of an exciting community that captures the entrepreneurial spirit of Kaka‘ako and transforms it into a place that will be different from any other urban destination worldwide.

Finally, Ward Neighborhood will adopt many principles for sustainability in its development practices. The input of the community will help guide the common vision of this most uncommon Neighborhood, creating a prosperity that will carry it well into the future.

Imagine a lively urban gathering place that sings with the mele of children, celebrates the art, history and culture of Hawai‘i, and provides inspiring views of the harbor and ocean. This place of world-class significance will be the Central Plaza of Ward Neighborhood. As part of the first phase of development, it will set the tone for great things to come. Shopping and dining experiences will be a part of the street level, with a blend of office and residential spaces on the levels above.

Encompassing 3.25 acres, the Central Plaza will become a magnet for family gatherings, community events and multi-cultural celebrations. With 290 yards of open area, the Plaza will overlook Kewalo Basin, creating views that bridge the sea and the city.

The Central Plaza will be a place where Hawai‘i’s people can honor their past and celebrate traditional island values. It will be a place where keiki will perform their first hula and local artists will share their unique island music and art. Where friends can gather to talk story over a cup of coffee, passersby may enjoy an impromptu ukulele session, and people of all ages can enjoy the warm Hawai‘ian sun. Here, the essence of aloha will fill the air–every day of the year.

In addition to the Central Plaza, two major public plazas will become gathering places for the Diamond Head and Ewa areas of Ward Neighborhood. Totaling more than 5 acres, these plazas will become the front yards for the surrounding residences. Along with parks, the plazas will offer beautiful green spaces for families to enjoy and children to play.

How to preserve and enhance the mauka and makai views from Ward Neighborhood requires careful attention. The orientation of buildings, street access points and the location of key public spaces will all be taken into consideration as the Master Plan unfolds.

Homes, shops and restaurants will share the existing views that extend mauka to makai on Ward Avenue and Kamake’e Street. The views from sidewalks, parks and plazas will be impressive for shoppers, visitors and residents alike.

The Central Plaza will open up to the south shore of Kewalo Basin, creating a gateway to Kaka‘ako via Ala Moana Boulevard. Many will enjoy the wide-open ocean views and the access to Ala Moana Beach Park and Kewalo Basin Park.

Our aspiration is to create a community inspired and guided by the spirit of environmental stewardship. With its rebirth, Ward Neighborhood will strive to fulfill a “triple bottom line:” maximizing economic, environmental and community assets.

Ward Neighborhood presents a new opportunity for smart growth on Oahu. The Master Plan calls for compact development, incorporating environmental sustainability through the careful consideration of land use along with the responsible design and operation of the buildings.

As a place to live, work and play, Ward Neighborhood will be a good steward of Hawai‘i’s precious land and natural resources. The Neighborhood will be pedestrian friendly. Transportation and parking will be designed to enhance its residential quality. Bicycle paths and mass transit will provide green alternatives to driving.

The proposed revisions to the Hawai‘i Community Development Authority (HCDA) Draft Mauka Area Plan recommend three fundamental objectives for Kaka‘ako:

1. Develop urban village neighborhoods.
2. Create great public places.
3. Make the connections with a balanced set of transportation modes.

By bringing to life a community that embraces the values, views and diversity of Kaka‘ako, the Ward Neighborhood Master Plan captures the spirit and vision of the Mauka Area Plan. Efficient and alternative transportation modes will be provided. Public spaces will be reenergized. By honoring what has come before, Ward Neighborhood will blossom into a vibrant, energetic, authentic urban village.

Ward Neighborhood. This is just the beginning.