In response to the Governor’s State of Emergency Proclamation Decree to address houseless in Hawai‘i, the City and County of Honolulu Department of Land Management (DLM) acquired the semi-vacant retail building, two dilapidated warehouse buildings and an open canopy area to redevelop. Located on the ‘Ewa mauka corner at the intersection of Iwilei Road and Sumner Street, the existing infrastructure and property was completely transformed from the original 1-2 story commercial/warehouse facility into a new four-story, mixed-use property, housing a 27-unit rental apartment complex, administrative offices, community outreach and resource center equipped with a commercial kitchen, dining hall, 10-person dormitory, counseling and support services center. The project site previously consisted of only buildings and pavement with onsite soil conditions that prevented stormwater runoff from percolating into the ground and recharging the aquifer. To meet the City’s desire for sustainable infrastructure, our design team created a new engineering soil media that significantly reduces the footprint of biofilters while meeting water quality requirements and permeability. The project features the City’s first at-grade biofilter and above-grade biofilter planters – successfully demonstrating that green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) can be implemented throughout urban developments.

Awards: ASCE Hawai‘i, Honor Award, 2023; ASCE Hawai‘i, Best Green/Sustainable/Envision Project, 2022