State’s First Drive-through Drugs Opens
By Kerry Miller
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Walgreens finally opened its doors in Kaneohe last week, and coming with it is a “first” for the Islands.
“One of the coolest things is the pharmacy drive-through,” said Dana Psomas, Walgreens district manager for Hawaii and also a pharmacist. “This one is a double drive-through, the first in Hawaii.”
The 14,900-square-foot drugstore occupies the former Kaneohe Star Market space and is 5,000 square feet larger than the Keeaumoku Walgreens, which opened on Nov. 1, 2007, at the old Tower Records spot.
Other pharmacy features are multi-language prescription labels in 14 different languages, to help ensure patients know how to take medicine properly if they don’t speak English. For keiki, pharmacists will add flavoring (11 to chose from) to children’s medicine to make it go down easier.
“The way we’ve designed the pharmacy, it’s easily accessible. We have a new design with privacy booths,” added pharmacy supervisor Clark Fujihara.
The 24-hour store also features the Cafe W Beverage Bar, a walk-up self-service concession with two coffee machines (one with Kona coffee) and snacks, explained Psomas.
In the photo department, customers can send in their digital photos for printing and, if they need to, have them sent to any Walgreens nationwide for pick-up. Beauty advisers are on hand to answer questions in the cosmetic department, which has exclusive Walgreens branded lines.
Like its nearby neighbor and competitor, Longs Drugs (which recently completed extensive interior renovations), Walgreens will carry local snacks, crack seed and local souvenirs, luggage, health items and Mountain Apple CDs.
Since the site was approved about a year ago, Psomas said there’s been a lot going on to prepare for its opening. “We’ve been working with local vendors, getting systems into place. We know that there’s quite a few different places we need to be throughout the island. We’ve been studying Hawaii for quite some time now.”
Hiring employees was at the top of its “to do” list, and the Kaneohe store ended up bringing Kahaluu native Heidi Muniz back from the Mainland to manage it. Muniz has been back on Oahu for two months, living in Ewa Beach, and is very excited to be home.
“I’ve been with Walgreens for five years. I started in Colorado. I love it,” said the 1991 Hawaii Mission Academy graduate.
Psomas has been with Walgreens for 19 years and happily came here to Hawaii to open the Kaneohe Walgreens. “It’s a dream come true for me,” she said.“This is paradise; I love it.”
The store has 40 employees, 95 percent of whom are from the Windward side, Psomas said. The phone number is 234-1490.
The chain plans to open a Kailua store at the former PriceBusters location next spring.
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