Pahoa RX Pharmacy - Are they still open?

[mdd7000]

Anyone know? Their phone number comes back as disconnected.
965.7535

[David Shaw]

I heard "Bought out by CVS and closed upon opening their new Pahoa store". Transferred their prescription list as well.
Puna Pharm still open if you want an independent operation.

-dwajs

[mdd7000]

Thanks.

[mdd7000]

Got a letter in the mail today - they closed and transferred their prescriptions to Long's.
(nice notice?)

[Rene Siracusa]

Yes, they transferred all their prescriptions to Longs, but YOU DON'T HAVE TO ACCEPT THAT. Puna Pharmacy already has a stack of papers from patients transferring from Longs to them, so you can do that too. Go to Longs and tell them so. And also remember that Puna Pharmacy has made major cash donations to our local urgent care clinic, Puna Community Medical Center, and engages in a voucher program for PCMC's uninsured patients who can't afford to pay for a prescription. Longs, on the other hand, hasn't done diddly for Puna.
Support the local business that supports your community. 'Nuff said.

[Kelena]

The cause and effect should be pretty clear here: A local business is crushed by one based in Rhode "Island", 5,500 miles away.

[james weatherford]

Long's comes in, a local pharmacy goes out...surprise! surprise! surprise!

btw: thank you, Rene, for that info on Puna Pharmacy supporting Puna Community Medical Clinic.

James Weatherford, Ph.D.
15-1888 Hialoa
Hawaiian Paradise Park

[KeaauRich]

At the risk of sounding like a pro-business republican (which I most certainly am not), may I remind you that the new Longs will probably employ 10 times the number of people as the old Pahoa Pharmacy and probably offer a wider range of name and generic drugs than the smaller pharmacy. The new Longs is bringing lower Puna lower prices on a wide range of products, which may encourage Malama to reduce its prices too. By offering products in lower Puna, Longs is probably reducing the number of shopping trips to Hilo (taking cars off busy stretches of highway and reducing car-created pollution). There are numerous folks who worked on construction of the new Longs who I'm sure appreciated getting a paycheck. And Long's parent company, CVS, is active in many national and local non-profit activities related to children and health services.

From their website: The CVS Caremark Community Grants program awards funds to nonprofit organizations for programs targeting children with disabilities, programs focusing on health and rehabilitation services, public schools promoting a greater level of inclusion in student activities and extracurricular programs, and initiatives that give greater access to physical movement and play. Additionally, some contributions are made to organizations that provide uninsured individuals with needed care, in particular programs where the care received is of higher quality and delivered by providers who participate in accountable community health care programs. The grant application process runs from January 1 through October 31. Qualifying organizations are eligible for grants of up to $5,000.

Is Pahoa Longs managed by Mother Theresa? No. But to say that Longs "hasn't done diddly for Puna" is far from accurate. And given the fact that the Pahoa store has been open all of three weeks or so, it seems premature to disparage their record of support to the Puna population.

[james weatherford]

Your points are well taken, 'Rich.
Another point to add: A chain like Long's (or franchise like BK and KFC) take most of their revenue OUT OF the community (about 85 cent of every dollar, while 15 cents stays) while a locally owned/operated business leaves more revenue IN the local community (about 40 cents of every dollar stays).

James Weatherford, Ph.D.
15-1888 Hialoa
Hawaiian Paradise Park

[Obie]

Those are actually percentages.

You are replacing a business that did a few hundred thousand a year with one that will probably do millions a year.

More money stays here !!