Ward Village’s newest towers just chalked up about $1.4 billion in contracted pre-sales, a clear sign Kakaʻako’s condo market still has plenty of heat. Developer Howard Hughes says it has inked contracts for 216 condominium units in Hawaiʻi and counts roughly 2,070 residences across six of the community’s newest towers as sold or pre-sold.
According to GlobeNewswire, the $1.4 billion in future condo revenue came largely from the pre-sale of 208 units at Melia and ‘Ilima, which were 57% pre-sold as of Sept. 30. The filing also lists Launiu at about 68% pre-sold at quarter-end and shows Ulana, The Park and Kalae at 100%, 97% and 93% pre-sold, respectively. Howard Hughes said it began executing closings at Ulana in November 2025.
In a September announcement, Ward Village said Melia and ‘Ilima produced roughly $1.2 billion in sales at launch, including more than $280 million in penthouse pre-sales. The two towers — designed by Robert A.M. Stern Architects — are being marketed as premium, design-led residences that tie into new parks and walkable streetscapes.
Ulana Opens, Delivers Reserved Housing
Ulana, the community’s eighth tower, opened to residents in early November and delivered 697 reserved-housing homes to first-time kamaʻāina buyers under the HCDA program, Aloha State Daily reported. That delivery is the single largest reserved-housing project on Oʻahu and the developer says the units were presold to households earning roughly 100–140% of area median income. The opening included ground-floor retail and neighborhood contributions intended to link new residents to nearby parks.
Pre-Sales Will Convert To Revenue
Howard Hughes told investors that pre-sales set the pipeline for future recognized revenue as contracts convert to closings and titles transfer. The company said Q3 results — driven by land transactions and condo pre-sales — supported a modest upward revision to full-year guidance. With Ulana closings underway and other towers still under construction, management said those conversions should bolster cash flow into 2026.
Luxury Demand Remains Intense
High-end interest is doing plenty of heavy lifting: The Wall Street Journal reported that at least one ‘Ilima penthouse went under contract for more than $40 million, potentially setting a Hawaii condo record. That kind of pricing helps explain how a handful of luxury sales can push launch totals into the hundreds of millions.
Parks, Walkways And The Sales Pitch
Ward Village has leaned on new public space and connectivity as part of its pitch to buyers. Ka Laʻi o Kukuluāeʻo Park opened in September and an elevated Ala Moana Boulevard pedestrian walkway — a roughly $17.8 million project funded largely with federal and state dollars — opened in May, according to Hawaiʻi Public Radio and local coverage. Those amenities are central to the developer’s case that parks and safer walkways boost both quality of life and property values.
“The homes connect into the broader neighborhood shaped by parks and walkable streetscapes,” Doug Johnstone said in a statement. How many of those pre-sales become long-term, lived-in homes — and how policymakers respond to rising demand in Honolulu’s urban core — will shape whether the project’s success translates into broader housing gains for local residents.
