Central O'ahu Sustainable Communities Plan
Central Oʻahu encompasses the verdant upland plateau nestled between the Waiʻanae and the Koʻolau mountain ranges and extends south to the Waipiʻo Peninsula in Pearl Harbor. The area was once cultivated in expansive fields of pineapple and sugarcane and dotted by small towns serving the plantations. Over time, the large-scale agricultural uses began to decline, while the small rural towns of Wahiawa, Mililani, and Waipahu grew to larger and more stable suburban communities. Today, these communities and the surrounding communities including Royal Kunia, Village Park, Waipiʻo, and Waikele provide much needed housing for Central Oʻahu and the adjacent regions. Central Oʻahu has also long been home to military housing and uses as well. Schofield Barracks, Wheeler Army Airfield, and Helemano are all located on the northern end of the region. Housing in Central Oʻahu continues to expand; however, Central Oʻahu still contains a significant amount of protected agricultural land, natural open space, and large passive and active recreation areas such as the 269-acre Patsy T. Mink Central Oʻahu Regional Park and the 288-acre Waipiʻo Soccer Complex. The revised Central O’ahu Sustainable Communities Plan (2021) was adopted on March 30, 2021.
Vision through 2035:
- Protect agricultural lands, open space, and natural, historic, and cultural resources
- Revitalize Waipahu and Wahiawa
- Build master planned residential communities that support walking, biking, and transit use
- Design communities to reduce automobile usage
- Provide adequate infrastructure to meet the needs of new and existing development
Central O’ahu Sustainable Communities Plan (2021)
Design and Neighborhood Plans in Central O'ahu
Public Infrastructure Map
The Public Infrastructure Map (PIM) identifies major public infrastructure projects within each of the development plan areas for the City and County of Honolulu as required under Section 4-8 of the Revised Ordinance of Honolulu (ROH). The PIM symbol shows the general location of a major public infrastructure project in a planning region, and is required prior to the appropriation of funds for land acquisition or construction. For more information, visit the PIM page.
- View the current Central O’ahu PIM.
- View the supplemental Central O`ahu PIM. The supplemental PIM shows PIM symbols for the Rail System.
Special Area Plans
Special Area Plans give communities the opportunity to define the identity, function, organization, and character of their specific neighborhoods in accordance with the general planning framework provided by their area’s Development Plan or Sustainable Communities Plan. For more information, visit the Special Area Plans page.
Special Design Districts
Certain areas are designated as special districts for the purpose of restoration, preservation, redevelopment or rejuvenation. Guidelines regarding development protect and/or enhance the physical and visual aspects of an area for the benefit of the community as a whole.
No Special Design Districts are in Central Oʻahu.
Transit-Oriented Development Neighborhood Plans
Transit-oriented development (TOD) is a pattern of different uses—housing, jobs, and services—surrounding a transit station that takes advantage of the convenience and affordability of transit. TOD neighborhoods will generally be about a five to 10-minute walk from a transit stop, which is considered to be a comfortable distance for pedestrians. The City’s neighborhood TOD plans recommend more intense uses immediately adjacent to the stations, with progressively lower-density development spreading outward. Visit the TOD website for more information.
Urban Design Plans
An urban design plan is typically required as a condition of a zone change approval for larger areas of land (master planned communities, large scale developments, etc.). The urban design plan provides a basic framework for site planning, land use, circulation and infrastructure. For more information, visit the Urban Design Plans page.