HCDA again delays decision on Kakaako tower

A state board governing development in Kakaako deliberated in private with a state attorney for 2-1/2 hours Wednesday over whether it should grant a permit for another condominium tower at Ward Village.

The Hawaii Community Development Authority board heard testimony on June 6 and 13 regarding the plan by developer Howard Hughes Corp. to build a 400-foot tower called Ko‘ula.

At Wednesday’s meeting, HCDA staff recommended granting the permit, but the board did not make a decision.

Another meeting to finish deliberations is scheduled for Aug. 9 at 10 a.m. in an HCDA conference room 547 Queen St.

If approved, Ko‘ula is expected to be the sixth tower built at Ward Village where Hughes Corp. has a master plan to develop 16 towers and 1 million square feet of retail space on 60 acres. Two towers are done and another two are under construction. Three others were previously permitted, though Hughes Corp. said in May that it canceled plans for two of those towers as part of redesigning pieces of its master plan.

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