Victoria Ward Park Makai

Victoria Ward Park Makai is an innovative example of how formerly impervious, previously developed land can be transformed into a community benefit and a beacon for health, culture, and sustainability. As the first SITES-certified park in the State of Hawaii, the park restores native flora and fauna, invites and encourages community connection, and showcases resilient landscape design in the heart of urban Honolulu. Check out this short documentary on the park.

Once the site of a former outdoor shopping mall and historic light industrial warehousing, the 1.3-acre area was redeveloped to be reimagined as a vibrant green space celebrating Hawaiʻi’s cultural and native habitat. The park honors the area’s historic underground freshwater flow (‘auwai) through a central pond and interpretive signage, offering a visible and educational connection to the site’s past.

A thoughtfully curated public art program integrates sculptures and custom installations that reflect the surrounding natural environment and cultural history. Among these is an artwork inspired by the native Ae‘o (Hawaiian stilt), selected to evoke stories and enforce a strong sense of place. The project also salvaged mature trees from nearby redevelopment sites underscoring the team’s commitment to reuse and ecological continuity across sites.

Challenges and innovations

Environmental challenges were overcome to shape the park's sustainable design. Subsoil constraints and high groundwater levels made traditional rainwater infiltration systems impractical. In response, the team designed the park to divert all stormwater to vegetated areas where runoff could be filtered naturally through deep-rooted native plants before entering the municipal storm drain system. This also helped raise the park’s elevation, improving flood resilience for the site and surrounding community.

The design and engineering team enhanced locally available topsoil to meet SITES soil restoration criteria and support long-term plant health. Ongoing soil testing is in place to ensure continued performance.

Environmental Benefits

• Native Planting: Restored a previously developed site while achieving a 60% native plant coverage, reducing water demand and supporting biodiversity.

• Stormwater Management: Rainfall is managed on-site via landscape filtration, improving water quality and reducing runoff into nearby Kewalo Harbor.

• Heat Island Reduction: Reflective pavements and areas shaded by tree canopy reduce microclimate warming and improve comfort for people and wildlife.

• Sustainable Sourcing: No wood from threatened species was used. Plants and materials were sourced from in state producers such as Green Thumb Nursery and Hawaiian Earth, minimizing transport emissions.

Social Benefits

• Equity and Access: Open to the public, the park supports equitable access to green space in an urban setting.

• Community Engagement: Public art, wayfinding signage, and flexible gathering spaces invite interaction, cultural appreciation, and sustainability implemented.

• Health and Wellness: Multi-use walking/recreational paths, open lawns, and shaded seating promote physical activity, mental restoration, and social connection.

• Tobacco-Free Policy: A no-smoking policy protects air quality and public health, particularly important in densely populated neighborhoods.

Economic Benefits

• Resource Efficiency: Water-efficient landscaping reduces long-term utility costs.

• Support for Local Economy: Local sourcing of plants, compost, and mulch supports regional producers and lowers environmental impact from transportation.

• Local Job Creation: The park’s development and ongoing maintenance generate both short- and long-term employment for the local workforce.

• Recycling Infrastructure: Facilities for recyclable collection foster environmental stewardship and feed value back into the community economy.

Victoria Ward Park Makai represents a forward-thinking vision for urban parks—one that integrates ecological restoration, cultural preservation, and inclusive public spaces. It stands as a model for how cities can embrace landscape design/architecture to regenerate land, enrich communities, and chart a more sustainable future.

Project team

• Howard Hughes Communities (Land Owner/Developer)
• VCA Green (SITES Consultant)
• VITA (Landscape Architect)
• SCB (Architect)
• Wilson Okamoto Corporation (Civil Engineer)
• Hawaiian Dredging Construction Company (General Contractor)
• Green Thumb (Landscape Contractor)

Image credit: Ward Village