A developer broke ground yesterday on a 50-unit transitional and long-term housing project to serve the homeless in Wai'anae.

Housing Solutions Inc., the nonprofit developer of the 4.3-acre parcel for Sea Winds Apartments, said it is the only project in its inventory that includes transitional housing for couples without children.

Construction of 20 studios and 30 two-bedroom townhomes is expected to take 16 months. Sea Winds will be the eighth facility managed by HSI. Its seven other facilities have 646 units and house more than 1,200 men, women and children.

CVS BUYS STAR MARKETS SITES FOR LONGS

CVS Caremark, the owner of Longs Drugs Stores, paid $4.1 million for the former Star Markets store in Mo'ili'ili, according to property records.

Rhode Island-based CVS said it plans to renovate the Mo'ili'ili Star building and reopen as Longs in the next 18 to 24 months. The new store will replace an existing Longs store about two blocks away at 2220 S. King St.

CVS also bought a former Star Markets store in 'Ewa Beach, which it plans to convert into a Longs. That Longs outlet is expected to open in the second half of next year after a renovation of the former Star store at 91-919 Fort Weaver Road.

KONA BREWING GETS ORGANIC CERTIFICATION

Kona Brewing Company said it has received organic certification for one of its beers that will be available on tap beginning in January.

The Oceanic Organic Saison is a Belgian-style ale brewed with organic malt and fermented with a blend of Belgian yeast strains and spiced with organic hops and organic coriander.

Kona Brewing recently received organic certification for the beer from Hawaii Organic Farmers Association, the company said in a news release.

The beer will be served on tap at Kona Brewing Company's two pubs in Kailua, Kona and Hawai'i Kai and at a few other Hawai'i restaurants. The brewery will begin bottling the beer in 22-ounce bottles in the spring.