Kamehameha Schools has selected Koa Partners and Castle & Cooke Hawai‘i to develop Waiakoa, an affordable mixed-use residential project in Block D of Our Kaka‘ako.

The new development will include approximately 1,032 homes for kama‘āina, with 60 percent designated as affordable housing for young professionals and families. Located at 756 Auahi Street on 4.2 acres along Cooke and Pohukaina streets, Waiakoa aims to create a community-focused environment accessible to urban Honolulu.

Designed with community in mind, the project includes two residential structures, open green spaces, a central plaza and approximately 68,000 square feet of commercial space to expand retail, grocery and dining options in the area.

The name Waiakoa, inspired by the life-sustaining waters of the area, reflects Kamehameha Schools’ commitment to nurturing Our Kaka‘ako as part of its broader educational mission.

“We aim to create a strong sense of community rooted in cultural connections to ‘āina,” Pualani Hao, director of planning and development at Kamehameha Schools, said in a news release. “Working together with our valued partners, Waiakoa embodies Kamehameha Schools’ commitment to offer diverse housing options in Our Kaka‘ako, where ‘ohana can flourish and build a lifetime of memories.”

The development is Castle & Cooke’s second in Our Kaka‘ako.

“It’s an honor to have been selected by Kamehameha Schools to transform this parcel and create much-needed homes and opportunities for Hawai‘i families,” said Castle & Cooke Hawai‘i President Harry Saunders in the release. “We see this project becoming a kama‘āina hub grounded with a Hawaiian sense of place.”

Koa Partners CEO Harry Lake added, “For me personally, I’m honored to work alongside two local organizations to build homes for the people of Hawai‘i, the place where I was born and raised.”

Groundbreaking is scheduled for 2026.