Highridge Costa, State Start $333 Million Phase of Mayor Wright Rebuild

Highridge Costa and the State of Hawaii have broken ground on the first phase of the Mayor Wright Homes redevelopment, a project that officials call the largest public housing initiative in the state's history. The ceremony took place Thursday at the 15-acre site in the Kalihi-Palama neighborhood, bounded by King Street, Liliha Street, and Vineyard Boulevard. The initial $333 million phase, designated as Phase 1A, replaces a complex that has stood for nearly 75 years.

The redevelopment will transform the site into a mixed-income community comprising 10 towers. Plans include more than 2,400 new rental homes, ranging from studios to five-bedroom units, alongside condominiums for sale and commercial space. The new development is designed to hold seven times as many homes as the current complex. More than half of the units will be reserved for tenants earning less than 80 percent of the area median income, a threshold that will expand in later phases to households earning up to 100 percent, or roughly $150,000 annually for a family of four.

Hakim Ouansafi, executive director of the Hawaii Public Housing Authority, framed the construction as a shift in how the state addresses housing supply. "It's not simply about breaking ground. It is about breaking barriers," Ouansafi said. He noted that the state must move away from past approaches to solve future housing problems. Ouansafi also emphasized that public housing should not mean "second class housing," arguing that residents deserve safe, modern homes in communities where poverty is not concentrated.

Gov. Josh Green described the project as central to the state's housing strategy, stating, "Housing provides health." He argued that stable housing allows residents to focus on education, food security, and health care. Moe Mohanna, president of Highridge Costa Development Company, praised the state for managing an initiative of this scale, adding, "What we are building here is a legacy." Current residents displaced by construction are being relocated and will have priority to return to the new units.

The project includes four acres of public parks and recreational space and is located within walking distance of the planned Iwilei rail station. Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi linked the development to the arrival of the Skyline rail line, describing the combination as historic for affordable housing. The first building is scheduled to open in 2029, with the full 15-year redevelopment expected to cost $1.3 billion, based on the state's 2017 estimate.