Longs joins rush to set up shop in Kakaako

First it was a major grocery store. Now a drugstore chain has committed to become part of one of Hawaii’s fastest-growing residential areas — Kakaako.

Longs Drugs plans to open a 23,000-square-foot store in the area, taking ground-floor space in the planned 988 Halekauwila condominium tower.

The move by Longs follows a previously announced plan by Whole Foods to open a store at another planned tower called A‘eo.

Both towers are expected to start construction within the next year or two at Ward Village, a master-planned community on 60 acres envisioned for up to 22 residential towers filled with 4,300 homes.

Though two condo towers are under construction at Ward Village, no one resides yet in the community that has long been known as the Ward Centers collection of retail, warehouse and office buildings.

Lots of other residential high-rise development is ongoing in Kakaako, including initial pieces of a master plan by Kamehameha Schools for up to 2,750 homes in seven towers. Yet the Kakaako area — 450 acres bordered by Ala Moana Boulevard and King, Piikoi and Punchbowl streets — has been devoid of a major grocery or drug store.

Ward Village developer Howard Hughes Corp. announced the plan by Longs on Wednesday in a news release.

Longs is one of Hawaii’s most ubiquitous retail chains, with more than 50 stores statewide. The company, now owned by CVS Health Corp., opened its first Hawaii store in 1954.

“With over 50 years of serving the people of Hawaii, we look forward to welcoming our current and future shoppers to Longs Ward Village,” Harold Morse, Longs general manager, said in a statement.

Nick Vanderboom, senior vice president of development for Hughes Corp., said in a statement that the company is committed to making Honolulu a better place to live, work, shop and play.

“This new Longs Drugs will allow Ward Village residents and other members of the nearby community to comfortably meet their daily needs with greater convenience,” he said.

The 988 Halekauwila tower is slated to have 424 units, 375 of which will be reserved for households with moderate incomes. Prices are expected to range roughly from the $300,000s to the $700,000s.

Hughes Corp. is expected to start building the tower by the end of next year and finish in 2019.