Page 14 - MidWeek - July 7, 2021

14 MIDWEEK JULY 7, 2021
STORY BY
BY BILL MOSSMAN
PHOTOS BY
ANTHONY CONSILLIO
Nearly seven decades after opening its first location in Honolulu, Longs Drugs remains a model of dependability in an ever-chang- ing world. Yet that same reli- ability has likely never been of greater worth than over the past 16 months when the coronavirus forced everyone to take their per- sonal health more seriously.
“We never closed our doors during the pandemic,” says Jon Higa, assistant general manager for Longs Drugs/CVS Hawai‘i. “Instead, we cemented ourselves as a trusted resource for essential services, and health and wellness products.”
hopeful of getting more jabs in arms through the company’s in- centives-heavy campaign called #OneStepCloser.
$500 prizes and five $5,000 give- aways for family reunions. But it’s also counting on other com- panies to lend a hand, includ- ing Norwegian Cruise Line and
SEE PAGE 19
One of the best evidences of Longs Drugs’ commitment to Hawai‘i and its people is in how much community work the company does.
“Each year, we support dozens of local charities and community groups through various initiatives,” says Jon Higa, assistant general manager for Longs Drugs/CVS Hawai‘i. “In 2020, for example, we provided a grant to The Salvation Army to support COVID-19 relief services specific to hunger and raised more than $113,000 to support Hawai‘i Food Bank.”
Beyond these noteworthy efforts, the company has also provided 22 an- nual scholarships to high school gradu- ates statewide through its Longs Drugs Scholarship Program, as well as sup- ported additional nursing/PA scholar- ships at University of Hawai‘i-Mānoa and Hawai‘i Pacific University.
Higa notes that the company’s ef- forts in community work would not be possible without the support of part- nering organizations such as March of Dimes, The Salvation Army, Aloha Unit- ed Way, American Red Cross, and Hilo Medical Center Foundation, Hawai‘i Chapter – National Hemophilia Foun- dation.
Thankfully, and to the relief of many, the longtime retail outlet (along with its parent company, CVS Health) has been there ev- ery step of the way — providing not only the usual grocery staples and personal grooming items cus- tomers have come to know, love and depend on, but a growing number of health care products, programs and services as well.
The company’s commitment to health care and, in particular, its efforts in helping to vaccinate the population, has been com- mendable. To date, CVS Health has administered approximately 23 million COVID-19 tests and nearly 24 million vaccine doses at its pharmacies and at long- term care facilities across the country. Despite these impres- sive numbers, company officials acknowledge that more must be done. To that end, they remain
(Top, from left) The Longs Drugs/CVS Hawai‘i leadership team includes Dr. Daniel Sabin, pharmacy manager at Longs Drugs in ‘Āina Haina; Jon Higa, assistant general manager; Fran Nakoa, district leader; and Dan Clarkson, district leader. (Above) Longs Drugs employees gather to celebrate the company’s donation to Queen’s Medical Center. PHOTO COURTESY LONGS DRUGS/CVS HAWAI‘I
For its part in the campaign, CVS Health plans to award 125
Ever dependable, Longs Drugs/CVS Hawai‘i continues to find ways to improve the overall health and wellness of its customers.