Hilton Grand Vacations has nearly completed the structural phase of a soaring 32-story, $490 million timeshare high-rise on the former King’s Village site that has been in limbo for more than a decade.
The project, “Ka Haku,” is slated to open as a Hilton Club in mid-2026.
“It’s pretty amazing walking over here — looking back at the skyline and seeing what you guys have done to change the skyline,” said Charles Pretorius, superintendent of general contractor Nordic PCL, at a topping-off ceremony Friday. “You guys have a lot to be proud of, you’ve come a long way. The project’s looking amazing, ” he told nearly 500 workers, team members and executives.
Along with King’s Village — a circa-1970s Waikiki landmark patterned after Disneyland’s demolished Hilton Grand Vacations King’s Village — the 1.-5-acre site was previously home to the Hale Waikiki Apartments and Prince Edward Apartments.
Developers had long had their eye on the iconic site in the heart of Waikiki, but plans to build a condo hotel were scrapped in 2014. Hilton Grand Vacations purchased the property in 2018 from BSC KVSC LLC, and a new timeshare tower was anticipated to be completed by late 2021.
Construction was initially expected to begin in the second quarter of 2019 with completion in early 2022.
The pandemic stalled Hilton Grand Vacations’ progress, but construction is now moving at a clip. Sales began in November 2024 and the first owners are expected to occupy the property by January 2027.
The project has been accepted by the community but some Waikiki residents have told the Waikiki Neighborhood Board that they were concerned about increasing density in the area and the loss of views.
Supporters say the project will continue gentrifying the back half of Waikiki. It will also add to the area’s tight lodging inventory and grow Hawaii’s timeshare market, which is known for attracting higher-spending, resilient tourists.
Hilton on Nov. 13 launched sales for Ka Haku’s 213 new studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom suites featuring ocean, mountain and city views.
The timeshare will feature a private arrival and departure lounge, fitness center, pool and pool bar, as well as a public Japanese-style bath and ground-floor retail and dining options.
“Sales are going great, they’re really selling,” said Michael Elliott, senior vice president of design and construction at Hilton Grand Vacations. “The product is pretty awesome.”
Elliott joined Hilton’s topping-off ceremony on Friday to celebrate the achievements of the 400- person construction team.
“Topping off officially means that we are at the highest point of the building,” Elliott said. “We have the final beam to set, which will be set next week…all of the workers have been signing it.”
“This is great,” Elliott said, “especially after having to stop for a few years — finally getting to this moment and celebrate the workers.”
Elliott said that the road to the building’s structural completion has not been an easy one.
“Because we went into design several years ago, back in 2018, building codes have changed and so working with the city and DPP (Department of Planning and Permitting) to bring our building up to current codes that have been enacted since we’ve stopped, that’s really been the most challenging thing,” he said.
Ka Haku will be Hilton Grand Vacations’ 14th resort in the state and the first Hilton Club in Hawaii.
Source: The Garden Island
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