The first Walgreens in Hawai'i with a drive-through pharmacy is geared up to open Friday in Kane'ohe pending approval of a city building inspection.

The slated store opening comes a year after Walgreens opened its first Hawai'i store at the former Tower Records site on Ke'eaumoku Street near Ala Moana Center.

Walgreens envisions opening 25 to 30 stores on O'ahu and the Neighbor Islands over the next several years. The next two store openings expected are in Kalihi in January and in Kailua in the first half of next year.

About 40 people will be employed at the Kane'ohe store, which is 14,800 square feet, or close to 4,000 square feet bigger than the typical Walgreens. The Ke'eaumoku store is about 9,000 square feet.

Like the Ke'eaumoku Walgreens, the Kane'ohe store will be open 24 hours a day and feature a self-serve beverage fountain and food bar that Walgreens calls Café W.