Hoopili

Issues regarding transportation and traffic remain at the forefront of concerns for many West O‘ahu residents. Ho‘opili seeks to have its residents break free of automobile dependency through providing a community with mixed-use spaces, pedestrian and bike paths and through the creation of a transit-oriented development (TOD) that will take advantage of the proposed rail stops within the community.

By creating diverse career opportunities within ‘Ewa, Ho‘opili hopes that a number of residents and members of the surrounding communities will be able to work where they live instead of commuting to Honolulu. Mixed-use space will allow residents the convenience of having offices, restaurants and shops nearby, but also creates jobs that are accessible by foot or bicycle. Ho‘opili intends for residents to utilize strategic pedestrian and bicycle path networks instead of automobiles to get to and from school, work and homes. With more than 7,000 jobs created within the community, Ho‘opili will provide the opportunity for many residents, as well as those from surrounding communities, to work in the ‘Ewa region.

Close planning with the City & County of Honolulu will allow residents needing to travel farther than Ho‘opili with additional transit options to reduce congestrion on area roadways. Bus routes will give residents alternative transportation options – and stops should generally be within a 5-10 minute walk from anywhere in the community for easy access. As Honolulu City and County rail transit plans currently stand, Ho‘opili will have two rail transit stops within the development. These areas will also be the focus of economic commerce. Ho‘opili intends to promote business at and around rail stops to provide convenience for riders as well as providing additional commercial opportunities for entrepreneurs.

Ho‘opili prioritizes responsible planning in all phases of its development to ensure that quality of life for all residents of the ‘Ewa Plain is improved. Close work has been coordinated with the state and city as well as other regional developers to design road projects that will fit into the scheme of the larger, completed picture. Access to UH West O‘ahu, the Department of Hawaiian Homelands, as well as surrounding communities through road infrastructure should improve traffic by the time Ho‘opili breaks ground.

Ho‘opili’s master developer, D.R. Horton – Schuler Division, has been a part of the ‘Ewa Plain for decades. As such, it is an effective contributor to the larger effort to address major transportation issues, including among others:

• Approximately 40 acres of land was provided for the alignment of Kualaka‘i Highway (formerly known as North-South Road) and its interchange, which opened in February 2010.


• The construction of an important segment of the Kapolei Parkway west of Ft. Barrette Road was completed.


• Significant sums have been paid into the ‘Ewa Highway Transportation Master Plan Impact Fee Bill, which was adopted to collect monies for six critical regional roadway improvements: North-South Road; Kapolei Parkway; widening of Ft. Weaver; widening of Ft. Barrette; expansion of the Makakilo Interchange; and the Kapolei Interchange.


• It is also expected that Ho‘opili will provide land for the widening and improvement of Farrington Highway so that this key road might be made safer and wider between Waipahu and Kapolei.


• The build-out of Ho‘opili will also bring an important stretch of the newly proposed East-West Connector Road, the portion tying into Ft. Weaver, so that the road will extend from there to Farrington Highway through the Department of Hawaiian Homelands and the new UH West O‘ahu campus. Many more opportunities to improve this area’s east-west connectivity should be realized through the community’s full build-out.

In order to bring together a variety of residents to create a diverse and thriving community, Ho‘opili intends to provide a variety of housing options, styles, energy efficiency, and price ranges. Residents of the community will have the power of choice when selecting a home that best fits their lifestyle in a neighborhood designed to bring together all types of people.

A total of 11,750 homes have been proposed for Ho‘opili to meet the growing housing needs on O‘ahu. The island’s housing shortage is expected to increase to more than 37,000 units by 2020 – a deficit that will remain even if all currently planned and approved housing is built – and Ho‘opili is designed to meet these demands. An estimated 30% of the total number of residences in Ho‘opili are anticipated to be sold as affordable homes, making home ownership a possibility for families at every income level.

Possible housing highlights may include single family homes, townhomes, semi-attached homes, condominiums and apartments. Unit construction is planned to incorporate green building practices to create an environmentally-responsible and resource-efficient community. Additionally, neighbors will be connected to one another and businesses in the community through a planned infrastructure designed with ample pedestrian and bicycle paths to promote green living.

Ho‘opili also intends to create a significant number of live-work accommodations, a concept made popular in Hawai‘i many years ago. The tradition began when shopkeepers would live above their store or restaurant, making the facility both a residence and place of business. With live-work homes, owners can live in the residential section of the unit and set aside a part of the space to run a small business or rent out the space as a livable studio. Other possibilities include business spaces renting out a section of the unit for residential space to create more housing options or allowing a locked-off space to be used by another business. With these flexible lifestyle options, Ho‘opili hopes to promote commerce and convenience for residents to create a world of possibilities.

The first set of homes is projected to become available in 2013. Ho‘opili's 20-year development period will ensure that there is time available to create well-planned designs to accommodate necessary infrastructure requirements.

One way that Ho‘opili is designed to embody its name – meaning “coming together” in Hawaiian – is through special spaces carved out within the development for residents to gather and get to know their neighbors.

Abundant open spaces, natural areas, green belts and parks are planned to be incorporated throughout the community for residents to get together and enjoy fresh air and sunshine.  The proposed district park should feature little league fields, tennis courts, soccer and football fields, basketball courts and picnic areas perfect for family-oriented weekends outdoors. Smaller, neighborhood parks – dubbed “pocket parks” – will be abundantly scattered throughout the community, strategically spaced so that they are an approximate 5-minute walk from the farthest home and safely accessible by children. Linear parks encircling Ho‘opili are designed to promote good health with walking and bicycle paths, and will have benches and other amenities available for rest areas.

A planned community center in the district park as well as a civic plaza in the center of Ho‘opili can provide spaces for recreational activities and classes open to all ‘Ewa residents. With the anticipated schools opening in Ho‘opili, cafeteria facilities could be open for public forums or they could be used for community classes and meetings.

A number of shops, restaurants and entertainment centers are also envisioned to bring families and residents out of their homes to connect with one another over leisurely Sunday dinners or for special occasions. With these vendors conveniently located within the development, it will be easy to get together with others in the community or invite friends and family to experience Ho‘opili.

Envisioned to be the “gateway” to West O‘ahu, Ho‘opili seeks to connect the surrounding ‘Ewa communities with the rest of the island. Residents in ‘Ewa Beach, ‘Ewa Villages, Honouliuli, Kapolei, Makakilo, Waipahu and West Loch can converge in Ho‘opili to enjoy the planned restaurants, shops and community areas that will work into the vision of a “new city” or “second city,” a place where residents can live, work and play.

Accessing Ho‘opili should be convenient for surrounding residents. Proposed rail transit and city bus stops are planned to be located throughout the community, each a 5-10 minute walk from residences or businesses. The community intends to be largely accessible for pedestrians and bicyclists, with networks of paths throughout the community leading to all areas.

Residents and visitors will be able to convene at a number of planned community spaces. Parks – from small neighborhood “pocket parks” to the larger district park – are planned to be available for shared use by all Hawai‘i residents. Planned shopping centers, restaurants and entertainment centers will create a robust economic area that is envisioned to grow into the vision of a “second city.”

Ho‘opili seeks to be a part of the greater ‘Ewa vision through creating a community geared toward connecting West O‘ahu’s neighboring communities and the greater area of Honolulu.

Upon completion, Ho‘opili will bring a number of educational facilities to ‘Ewa residents where individuals of all ages can come together to learn. From pre-schools to the new University of Hawai‘i West O‘ahu – currently under construction on the outskirts of Ho‘opili – education will be readily available at all stages of life to create a “life-long learning focused” community.

Designs have been laid for the addition of three elementary schools, a middle school and a high school, perfect for new families looking to settle into a neighborhood where they can live, work, play, and learn for years to come. More facilities will help establish competitive academic and athletic programs for all schools housed in the Campbell-Kapolei complex area. Additionally, a new school complex could work toward alleviating classroom overcrowding in neighboring ‘Ewa districts as West O‘ahu continues to expand. Ho‘opili looks forward to being a community where the youngest learners can begin to make great strides and fulfill the entire cycle of their education.

The nearby UH West O‘ahu campus will provide Ho‘opili residents – and the ‘Ewa community at large – with accessible higher education without the commute to Honolulu. Ho‘opili aims to simplify access to the university by designing a walkable, transit-oriented community with ample pedestrian and bicycle paths. With easy connection to Ho‘opili through these “green”’ options and the proposed rail stops within the development, the influx of people attending UH West O‘ahu will also bring economic activity for the businesses planned for the community.

Ho‘opili also holds potential spots for other educational facilities like pre-schools, daycare operations or private schools to further enhance learning opportunities for residents.  Families will be able to choose their preferred options for education at every stage of their child’s development.

Outside of the classroom, residents of all ages will have spaces where they can continue learning through leisure activities in planned parks and recreation facilities that will sponsor a variety of activities to fill weekends and school breaks. Ho‘opili also anticipates working with other community centers in ‘Ewa including the Kroc Center, a 200,000 square foot facility by the Salvation Army projected to open in 2011, and the Mālama Learning Center, which brings art, science, conservation and culture together to promote sustainable living.

Ho‘opili is designed to complement the rich, natural beauty of our island home. From preserving majestic views of Diamond Head and the surrounding mountain ranges to incorporating a variety of parks and open spaces, Ho‘opili will be a relaxing, natural haven for all ‘Ewa residents to enjoy.

Numerous “pocket parks” are being developed in strategic locations throughout Ho‘opili to provide safe and convenient access to green spaces for users from the young to the young at heart. These neighborhood parks are intended to be strategically placed within an approximate 5-minute walk from the farthest residence in the area, perfect for families with children to enjoy.

Plans are also underway for a large district park that aims to provide sports-oriented activities for athletes of all ages. Little league fields, tennis courts, soccer and football fields, basketball courts, and picnic areas are all proposed implementations that will encourage residents throughout West O‘ahu to get involved in healthy activities.

For exercise at residents’ leisure, the linear parks that will encircle the entrance of Ho‘opili are expected to feature walking and bicycle paths that can be tackled at the individual’s pace - sprint through with vigor or stroll and make use of benches and amenities.

D.R. Horton – Schuler Division is dedicated to promoting green, sustainable designs for the development. Remaining environmentally responsible will benefit the residents of Ho‘opili and the rest of Hawai‘i as new neighborhoods are created for the enjoyment of generations to come. Single-family, multi-family, mixed-use and commercial buildings within Ho‘opili are planned to be designed with a multitude of sustainable features.

Structures within Ho‘opili will incorporate green building practices throughout the development, with a mindful approach to preserve natural views to Diamond Head and the surrounding mountain ranges. The design of Ho‘opili has been years in the making to ensure that there will be properly-phased utility infrastructure development and the proposed 20-year build out is in place so that responsible planning can continue until construction is completed.

Ho‘opili is intended to be a walkable, transit-oriented community that will reduce automobile dependency through a use of mixed-spaces. Residents should be able to access shops, restaurants, schools and most of their everyday necessities within the neighborhood – and most might even be able to access all the things they need to live, work and play within a short 5-10 minute walk. Through a planned infrastructure of walking and bicycle paths, this design can be convenient, healthy for residents and great for the environment.

Open spaces, parks and community facilities have been abundantly placed in the design of Ho‘opili. The natural beauty of Hawai‘i should shine through the compact community with a variety of green spaces residents and the surrounding community will be able to enjoy. From large, sprawling green spaces of the proposed district and Canyon Park, to smaller neighborhood “pocket parks” scattered throughout the entire development, Ho‘opili seeks to preserve the natural beauty of Hawai‘i.

For decades, sugar cane was planted and harvested by O‘ahu Sugar in the area of West O‘ahu that Ho‘opili is intended to be built on. D.R. Horton - Schuler Division appreciates this rich history of agriculture production in West O‘ahu and is committed to preserving agriculture in Ho‘opili in perpetuity. This will be accomplished through the implementation of the Ho‘opili urban agriculture initiative, which will integrate the production of organic agriculture in well located community areas. In addition, Ho‘opili will include several community garden sites and farmers' markets throughout the development.

Ho‘opili is being designed to be a community which fits into the overall vision of the ‘Ewa area, as it has been calculated by city planners to address the growing housing and economic concerns faced by O‘ahu residents. Since the 1970s, there has been discussion about creating a second urban core – a “second city” or “new city” – to provide residents an alternative to living and working focused in downtown Honolulu.

Two primary long-range development plans for West O‘ahu are the City and County of Honolulu’s growth policy, the ‘Ewa Development Plan (‘Ewa DP) and the Kapolei Area Long Range Master Plan, which was adopted by the City and County of Honolulu as part of Resolution 91-34. Ho‘opili intends to remain highly consistent with the goals of these two plans to mark itself as a contributing part of the ‘Ewa vision. The long term master plan involves growth in the area that will include community building – not just project development – to create neighborhoods designed to enhance lives, reduce automobile dependency and connect to one another through a network of greenways.

Much of the ideals outlined in the master plan are also elements discussed by the Ho‘opili Task Force when deciding ways the development would work to shape the community.  A number of other developments — including the new University of Hawai‘i at West O‘ahu campus, 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 also underway to create a robust, urban center in West O‘ahu. By working with the task force and other developments in the area, Ho‘opili could have a unique and unprecedented chance to address connectivity, policy and infrastructure issues as the ‘Ewa region is developed.

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. 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 more than 38,000 employed workers living in the area.[1]  D.R. Horton – Schuler Division intends to continue working with regional planners to ensure that Ho‘opili fulfills its role in the ‘Ewa master plan to create another dynamic city on O‘ahu.

[1] Source: Decision Analysts Hawaii, Inc.