When talking about Ho‘opili, it is important to understand the bigger picture for growth that is planned for the ‘Ewa area to see how this new community fits in, and the vital role it is designed to play.

Over three decades ago, city planners set out to create a “second” or “new” city in West O‘ahu to provide residents an alternative to living and working in downtown Honolulu. They wisely foresaw early on that if O‘ahu was going to thrive and compete at a world-class level, a second major primary employment center and supporting harbor system would be vital to its success.

Efforts are now underway to complete this vision of creating a dense urban core within ‘Ewa. A number of other developments — including the new University of Hawai‘i at West O‘ahu campus, robust resort and marina areas at Ko Olina, the Salvation Army’s new Kroc Center, two major regional shopping centers, new public and private schools, new regional roads and highways, and a new transit system that should improve transportation both within and to and from ‘Ewa — are underway.

Considerable commercial, industrial, resort, residential, and government development is planned for the area over the next 20 years. This is part of the City’s master plan to transform ‘Ewa from what it has been — largely a suburb of Honolulu — to what it is expected to become — Hawai‘i’s second largest city and urban center. In the future, ‘Ewa is to become a highly appealing destination for residents and visitors alike, and not just a source of commuters to downtown Honolulu.

City planners predicted this long ago, as documented in the City and County’s ‘Ewa Development Plan. The ‘Ewa Development Plan was officially adopted by the City Council in August 1997 and is currently being updated. The plan presents a vision for ‘Ewa’s future development and provides conceptual land use plans that will serve as a policy guide for more detailed zoning maps and regulations, and public and private sector investment decisions.

In the near future, ‘Ewa should also become a major economic engine for the state. For the 2006 to 2025 period, planned development in ‘Ewa should generate significant new revenues and an average of about $620 million in payroll annually. ‘Ewa should continue to become a major jobs-creation center (Kapolei Job Growth - pdf 5.1mb).

Forecasted activity includes creation of about 40,000 or more new jobs in ‘Ewa. Most of those jobs should be filled by those living in ‘Ewa. Projections call for over 38,000 employed workers living in the area.

This is where Ho‘opili — which offers residents the opportunity to live, work and play right within their own community — fits in.

This new community is designed as one of the last missing pieces of the larger master plan for the area, delivering needed homes and jobs in the fast–growing West O‘ahu region.

When built, Hoopili can help complete the long-range vision for ‘Ewa and can play a vital role in creating another dynamic city on O‘ahu.