First residents moving into Kamehameha Schools’ Kakaako

November 15, 2012

Melissa Chang,

The first residents of Kamehameha Schools’ master-planned development in Kakaako are moving in today, as the first condo in the mix holds its grand opening this afternoon. Six Eighty, located at 680 Ala Moana Blvd., is the first major construction project of Kamehameha’s 15-year “Our Kakaako” master plan.

The refurbished office building has 54 apartments—42 studios and 12 one-bedroom units—on three floors atop 8,600 square feet of ground floor commercial space. (The project is for renters who earn up to Honolulu’s median income and fulfill a portion of the Hawaii Community Development Authority’s reserved housing requirement for the Schools’ master plan.) Currently, about half the units are rented.

Model unit designed by Cathy Lee of RSVPStyle

Each unit comes equipped with stainless steel appliances including refrigerator, electric range and oven, above range microwave, through-the-wall air conditioning unit and water heater. Shared laundry facilities are located on each floor.

The units also feature designer touches like vinyl whitewashed floors, open concept floor plan, stainless steel kitchen island in one-bedroom units and 12-foot ceilings. I got a look at the model units yesterday, including a large one-bedroom unit and two studios. (Click here to see the video.) Each unit has an industrial, urban-loft ambience, which is in keeping with the youngish vibe of the emerging Kakaako district.

The rec room

There are also two recreational rooms—a game room and a media room—as well as a recreational rooftop deck with barbecue and lounge areas. Each elevator lobby is painted by PowWow Hawaii and features eclectic lighting fixtures.

Probably the biggest selling point for living in Six Eighty is the fact that it’s literally just steps away from some of the hippest new restaurants, boutiques, and events that have made a splash in Kakaako in the last year, including Eat the Street, Honolulu Night Market, 808 Urban, Whole Ox Deli and Taste Table. Hank’s Haute Dogs and Restaurant Row are longtime draws for the area as well.

The 54 apartments at Six Eighty are the first of 2,750 units that Kamehameha expects to be built as part of its 29-acre master plan in Kakaako. In addition to Six Eighty, Kamehameha expects to create a diverse community with a mixture of housing types, including street-level urban townhomes, work-live units and high-rise condominium units—in a range of price points for sale and for rent.

All renters at Six Eighty are subject to eligibility, income and asset restrictions and must occupy their unit. An eligible renter’s maximum annual adjusted household income must not exceed $57,890 for one person; $66,160 for two persons; and $74,430 for three persons.

Monthly rent for the apartments is based on unit type and ranges from $1,100 to $1,400. Pets are allowed for a nominal fee (or "pet rent") and parking is available for $75 per month.