Who Owns Longs Drugs?

Longs Drugs operates under CVS Health's corporate sustainability framework, known as Healthy 2030. This strategy encompasses four pillars: Healthy People, Healthy Business, Healthy Community, and Healthy Planet. CVS Health publishes annual impact reports detailing progress across these areas.

Medication Disposal: Longs Drugs participates in CVS Health's medication disposal programs, providing safe disposal of expired and unused medications. These programs help prevent environmental contamination and reduce the risk of prescription drug misuse. CVS Health reports metrics on waste reduction and responsible disposal practices across its pharmacy network.

Store Operations: Longs Drugs stores implement energy efficiency measures including LED lighting, efficient HVAC systems, and waste reduction programs. CVS Health has set targets for increasing the percentage of non-medical waste recycled across its retail locations. However, Longs Drugs does not hold independent environmental certifications such as LEED for its individual store locations.

Supply Chain: CVS Health assesses suppliers based on environmental practices, labor standards, and ethical business conduct. Longs Drugs' Hawaiian supply chain includes local distributors that support the island economy while reducing transportation emissions where possible. However, the geographic isolation of Hawaii means most products must be shipped long distances.

Opioid Compliance: Following significant litigation related to opioid dispensing practices (detailed in the Recalls and Controversies section), CVS Health has implemented enhanced compliance programs across all pharmacy locations, including Longs Drugs stores. These programs include stricter prescription monitoring, enhanced staff training, and improved systems for identifying suspicious prescription orders.

Longs Drugs does not hold B Corp certification, and no independent third-party environmental audits specific to the Longs Drugs brand are publicly available. Sustainability claims are reported at the CVS Health corporate level.

Longs Drugs has received recognition primarily for its community presence in Hawaii rather than through formal industry awards. The brand's deep integration into Hawaiian communities has been acknowledged by local business organizations and community groups.

Business View Magazine has featured Longs Drugs for its community support and healthcare innovation in Hawaii. The brand's localized business model, which combines in-store and online services while partnering with local organizations, has been cited as an effective approach to community healthcare delivery in an island market.

As part of CVS Health, Longs Drugs benefits from the parent company's broader recognition. CVS Health has been included in the Fortune 500 and has received recognition from healthcare industry organizations for its integrated care models and pharmacy services. However, specific independent awards for the Longs Drugs brand entity are limited, as the brand operates as a regional division rather than a standalone company.

Opioid Crisis Litigation: CVS Health, including its Longs Drugs subsidiary, has been involved in major litigation related to the opioid crisis. In December 2022, CVS agreed to pay approximately $5 billion over 10 years to settle thousands of lawsuits claiming the company contributed to the opioid epidemic by dispensing opioid prescriptions despite red flags. The settlement was part of a broader agreement involving CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart totaling over $13 billion to resolve more than 3,000 lawsuits from states, municipalities, and Native American tribes.

Department of Justice Lawsuit (2024): In December 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a civil lawsuit against CVS Pharmacy Inc. and subsidiaries, alleging that CVS knowingly filled unlawful prescriptions for controlled substances in violation of the Controlled Substances Act. The complaint, unsealed in Providence, Rhode Island, claims CVS dispensed suspicious opioid prescriptions despite red flags and sought reimbursement from federal healthcare programs. This litigation affects all CVS Health pharmacy operations, including Longs Drugs stores in Hawaii.

Store Closures in Hawaii: Between 2019 and 2025, CVS Health closed several Longs Drugs locations in Hawaii, including stores in Honolulu (two closures in 2019 and 2022), Hilo (2022), Wahiawa (2022), Ewa Beach (June 2024), and Ward Village (June 2025). These closures have drawn community concern in Hawaii, where Longs Drugs is viewed as a local institution. Community leaders and residents have expressed concern about reduced access to pharmacy services in affected neighborhoods.

Competition with Walgreens: Since Walgreens entered the Hawaii market in 2007, Longs Drugs has faced increased competition. Walgreens has expanded to approximately 25 to 30 locations in Hawaii, challenging Longs' historically dominant position. Some industry analysts have questioned whether CVS Health's investment in the Longs brand in Hawaii is sufficient to maintain market share against Walgreens' expansion.