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Just curious....I've been driving past the new Longs Drugs in Pahoa just about every other day and it looks like they are just about ready to open. All the shelves are fully stocked inside..
Just wondering if anyone knows when the unofficial opening will be?
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I'm under the impression it's Nov 1st but happy to be corrected. I drove there the other day because I don't plan on driving there again unless I really have to.
Tom
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Kind of ironic they are calling it the WOODland center after cutting down all the Ohias. Those pitiful 4 ft high saplings they planted will take some time to get to the size those Ohia's were. Just Saying!
BTW, Ohia's only grow 1/32 of an inch diameter PER year, according to rangers at Hakalau.
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Sorry Dory,
But the real deforestation took place at the Malama Center. They took out twice the acreage of pristine Ohia forest and replanted no native species.
At Woodland the property had been graded previously and most of the trees removed were invasive weed trees. They've landscaped with Kukui and Ohia. They may be small, but there are probably more Ohia trees there now than a year ago.
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Page A11 of the Sunday, 10/31 Hawaii Tribune-Herald has a full page ad for the new Long's in Pahoa.
It will open at 8:30am on Monday, November 1.
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Sooo...Has anyone gone to the opening today? How are the prices? And most importantly....Are the alcohol prices the same as Hilo Longs?
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Just got back from the Pahoa Long's. It is a very nice, very large, very bright and clean store with wide aisles. I did check a box wine and the price was exactly the same as Hilo. The liquor section seemed very large compared to the Hilo store. Actually, all the departments are more extensive. There are lots of check-outs...let's hope they keep them staffed and open when needed. That is my major complaint about the Hilo Longs....only one or two check-outs open even when the store is packed.
I mostly grabbed the opening specials....Progresso Soup, Diet Coke, and pasta. People had their carts loaded up with these products and the staff were restocking the shelves as quickly as people were emptying them! The staff were extremely pleasant and it seemed like there were a lot of managers running aound making sure everything was going smoothly.
It was very crowded...so you may want to wait a few days for the excitement to die down. My personal opinion is that it is a nice addition to Pahoa.
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I drove by after returning a "redbox" movie to Malama Market. The traffic was backed up leaving Malama Market, probably due to all the Hilo direction vehicles leaving both stripmalls. There desperately needs to be at least a temporary stop light at the Malama bypass intersection. It's the left turn there that causes the back up. Someone is going to feel pressured to dart out for a left turn and get creamed.
The parking lot at Woodland appeared full, but there were no lines of waiting cars(yet). Because of their limited parking, I'm going to plan on visiting after "peak" hours when possible.
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Had to try it out.There appears to be plenty of parking.
HPD was there directing traffic.
I pulled in and got a parking place right away.
Very nice store and a welcome addition to the area.
No traffic problems for me,I live in Kapoho.
I agree that a light would be nice for those who live toward Hilo.The only problem is that it would take 10 years of studies,all kinds of protests and about 10 million dollars to do it.
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I wonder who is paying for HDP to direct traffic and how long they will be there?
Carol
Carol
Every time you feel yourself getting pulled into other people's nonsense, repeat these words: Not my circus, not my monkeys.
Polish Proverb