1538 Kapiolani Tower

A Project for Honolulu

Plans for 1538 Kapiolani Tower are in the works to help meet the housing demands of the city. Located in the Ala Moana neighborhood, the building will provide 331 residential units stacked over a 7-story podium. The podium is set to include commercial spaces and a common lobby for residents. This will also include a pedestrian-only entryway.

The residential tower is designed to be 33 stories above the 7-story podium. This unique design provides increased privacy for residents and also promotes ease of accessibility to the parking garage. An additional benefit of the tower is that these elevated units will tend to have great views of the nearby mountains and the ocean. The high-rise design also positions the units to receive natural light during the day.

Actual unit designs will be versatile, with interesting, modern layouts, such as 2-story lofts and flats. There will be 55 studios (~461 square feet), 135 1-bedrooms (~677 square feet), 115 2-bedrooms (~1,065 square feet), and 26 3-bedrooms (~1,651 square feet). The diversity of unit sizes and layouts allows for flexibility and helps establish living spaces that feel urban, yet comfortable.

Intentional Amenities

Residents at 1538 Kapiolani Tower will have access to amenities that are in close proximity (or are internal to) the building. Current plans incorporate plenty of greenery along the exterior of the building, including planters on each parking level, which will create a beautiful green screen across the lateral surfaces. There will also be ground-level landscaping, with plans already in place for the upkeep of greenery on the amenity deck and around the perimeter of the building. Nearby streets are aligned with monkeypod trees, and the development will maintain the upkeep of the landscaped pedestrian pathway.

At the ground floor, you’ll find a porte-cochere and lobby for residents. Plans include ample space for vehicle loading and unloading, bike parking, and car-sharing. Parking spaces will be set for both retail and residential purposes. The parking garage will span across floors 2 through 6, with spaces allocated for cars and bikes.

Once you reach the 7^th floor, you’ll step out onto the amenities deck. This area is specifically for the use of residents (and their guests) and includes both indoor and outdoor amenities. Residents will have direct access to a pool and lawn, with a playground for the children and additional outdoor space for relaxation. The deck will also include cabanas and dining spaces. Golfers (and mini golfers!) can practice on the putting green. The building is set to be pet-friendly, with plans for a separate area for dogs to run and play.

All floors above the deck are allocated to residential housing. The building is set to have 40 floors, in total, and the top deck will include space for residents to enjoy views of the mountains and the beach.

Addressing Affordable Housing

The plans for 1538 Kapiolani Tower also incorporate off-site affordable housing units. These units (101, in total) will be spread across two separate locations: 765 Amana Street and 1564 Kalakaua Avenue.

765 Amana Street is currently an office building. The developer, JL Capital, plans are to convert the building (adaptive reuse) into 64 affordable units. It was negotiated by the City Council that all of these units will be available to families earning up to 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI). This building is planned to include 36 studios, 20 1-bedrooms, and 8 2-bedrooms.

The other location, 1564 Kalakaua Avenue, will be 6-stories tall and is also set to target families earning 80% of the AMI as well. There will be 37 units, in total, to include 24 1-bedrooms, 11 2-bedrooms, and 2 3-bedrooms. Both of these proposed residential buildings are designed to address affordable housing needs in Honolulu. The units at both 765 Amana Street and 1564 Kalakaua Avenue will remain affordable for 60 years (available to families earning 80% of the AMI), twice the amount of time normally required by the City of Honolulu.

Ala Moana Appeal

One of the main benefits of living in the Ala Moana neighborhood is having proximity to many different attractions, including shopping centers, restaurants, and places for outdoor recreation. 1538 Kapiolani Tower will be right next to First Hawaiian Bank, Ala Moana Center, and additional commercial spaces, all within direct walking distance.

Additionally, the planned tower will also be close to other main Honolulu attractions, such as Ala Moana Beach Park, Ala Wai Boat Harbor, and Ala Moana Shopping Center. Ala Moana Beach Park is the perfect destination for families looking to spend some time in the sun, with a half-mile of sandy shoreline, picnic tables, and even tennis courts. You can walk, jog, or bike down the paved pathways and enjoy the serene sound of the ocean waves gently crashing right next to you. Once you need a break, take a dip in the cool ocean, and enjoy the calm, kid-friendly waves. Although the beach does have lifeguards, it is always crucial that children have supervision when around any body of water; however, if you are looking to help your children become more comfortable in the ocean, Ala Moana Park provides much calmer waves compared to some of the other beaches on Oahu.

Ala Moana Shopping Center is a gigantic open-air commercial space that features over 350 stores and restaurants. Shoppers can browse different chain stores and local boutiques or catch a bite to eat at one of the countless restaurant options. The space also supports community cultural events, including daily hula shows, musical performances, and pop-up markets featuring handmade goods produced by local residents. Between the shopping center and the beach park, residents at 1538 Kapiolani Tower will have access to countless opportunities for entertainment and exploration within their own community.

Project plans for 1538 Kapiolani Tower are supportive of the current need for additional housing within the Honolulu area. These designs have been curated across three different locations, with 1538 being the main location to host a majority of the homes. The proposal also takes other community needs into consideration, such as maintenance of greenery and pedestrian pathways. Finding a home in Midtown Ala Moana can be quite competitive, and these building plans will help offset area housing needs to keep Honolulu accessible to its current residents.