Ho‘opili hopes to allow residents the opportunity to integrate their personal and professional lives, by offering a number of new employment alternatives.

Ho‘opili is expected to create thousands of new jobs in the area. Possible jobs–creation areas include:

• A research and development park to service the new University of Hawai‘i at West O‘ahu campus

• A medical office area that could compliment existing facilities, such as Kahi Mohala and St. Francis West Hospital

• New businesses, shops, restaurants and entertainment centers

• Schools



Live–Work Lifestyle Housing

Ho‘opili is planned to include a significant number of what are called “live–work” homes. Live–work accommodations allow the owner to live in the residential part of the unit, and set aside a commercial part of the unit — often downstairs — to run a small business or shop (or, perhaps, rent it out as a livable studio). Conversely, a business owner could rent out the residential space, creating a revenue source for him or herself, and creating even more available housing (or rent out that space for business purposes, too). Even more, one could use the unit exclusively for either living or working purposes. There are many favorable possibilities created with the intention to provide flexible living options for O‘ahu’s residents.

The live–work concept is one made popular many years ago when shopkeepers would often live above their store or cafe. With this traditional design in mind, Ho‘opili could reintroduce this simple lifestyle option which should, in turn, allow for a high quality of life for its residents.

D.R. Horton-Schuler Division is test piloting the live–work concept in its new Mehana at Kapolei community, which is currently under construction. Mehana — Hawaiian for “warmth of the sun” — is planned to include nine neighborhoods with an estimated 1,150 single and multi-family homes, nearly 350 of which are expected to be offered as affordable homes under the City’s guidelines. This planned community will feature neighborhood parks, recreational facilities, and commercial space. Delivery of the first homes in Mehana is expected in 2008.

With its Mehana project, D.R. Horton-Schuler Division saw a unique opportunity to offer residents the chance to live and work not only in the same general area, but perhaps in the same building — with homes above ground-floor retail and office space. The close proximity of the Kapolei city center, planned transit station and civic center, the imminent commercial build–out of the lands along the Kapolei Parkway and the 3,000 or so residents should make for a powerful mix. The company hopes this mix will attract considerable future business development so that Kapolei can realize its objective for the true live, work and play experience.