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Grocery Shopping in Maui - is Costco worth the stop?

Grocery Shopping in Maui - is Costco worth the stop?

Old Jul 24th, 2006, 07:16 AM
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Grocery Shopping in Maui - is Costco worth the stop?

I'll be travelling to Maui with 7 other people for one week. We have a house rented in Maui Meadows (inland of Wailea beach). As we plan for food provisions, I wanted to find out - is it possible to just "buy as we go" at grocery stores in the area, or do you advise stocking up at the Costco near the airport in advance? My preference would be to just pick up food in advance of cooking dinner or preparing a picnic lunch any given day, but I'm not sure if there are sufficient groceries in the area and if they're much more costly than a major trip to Costco. Recommendations? Thanks in advance. . .
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Old Jul 24th, 2006, 07:40 AM
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The new Kihei Safeway is large, very convenient (pop down Pulani Hwy to avoid traffic and lights), good if you aren't buying massive quantities. (There's another supermarket or two on the main drag at the north end of town, but I forgot the name.)
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Old Jul 24th, 2006, 08:10 AM
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Debb, just returned from Maui and Ohau (see my lengthy trip report) and found Safeway to be totally adequate enough for our family of 4. We stayed in a condo, and ate only breakfast there. Unless you are feeding an army, I can't imagine needing the quantites you would buy at Costco. Water by the case is the only thing I would buy in quantity. Resist the urge to overbuy. We ended up throwing out some items on our last morning, including a 1/2 gallon of milk, and at those prices, it really broke my heart. Even though I didn't have my Safeway card with me, I was still able to enter my home phone number and took advantage of sale prices just like at home.
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Old Jul 24th, 2006, 08:26 AM
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I find the Costco in Maui is a must and hit it right after we land because it is right across the street..
I load up on cocktail material, beers, muffins/granola,snacks,chicken/fish,
steaks and salad stuff..
We then use the Safeway for the little things and find it works for us and we are in and out in a matter of 15 minutes..
Have a wonderful time..
 
Old Jul 24th, 2006, 12:57 PM
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i agree totally with Tathiti Tams--
2 teenage boys and 3 adults-- just returned --stayed 2 weeks Kihei Condos--Costo is a must
Have a great time,,,
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Old Jul 24th, 2006, 01:52 PM
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Our family did OK just with the Safeway in Lahaina, but we are all adults and mostly ate out at restaurants.
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Old Jul 24th, 2006, 02:17 PM
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The tap water is terrific, by the way, so you don't need to spend your money (you do know that bottled water costs more than gasoline?!)
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Old Jul 24th, 2006, 02:34 PM
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For a great snack to enjoy with the setting sun, pick up some poke from the fish counter at Safeway Supermarket. Their Shoyu Ahi Poke is the best. Poke (pronounced "poh-key") is a Hawaiian version of ceviche or sashimi.

There are other Hawaiian delicacies that you might miss out on if you only shop at Costco. But with 8 people renting a house for 8 days you will clearly be going through a lot of food. If you have a Costco membership, my advice is to visit once at the beginning of the trip for basics that you know you will consume a lot of - do you really like breakfast muffins? Or wine? But visit local shops and farmers markets to spice up your dinners. Try Portuguese Sweet Bread instead of plain dinner rolls. Find out where locals buy the freshest seafood. Marinade some chicken breasts with store-bought "huli huli sauce" and barbeque yourself a great dinner. Ignore all rental car warnings and take the "back way" to Hana. And most of all, have fun.
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Old Jul 24th, 2006, 02:35 PM
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Does anyone else get overwhelmed in Costcos, etc. - and end up spending way too much money at the warehouse stores?
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Old Jul 24th, 2006, 02:54 PM
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If you go to Safeway, be sure to sign up for their club card. It's free and you can get the discounts right then and there.
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Old Jul 24th, 2006, 03:09 PM
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To save money on vacation I just eat at Costco. All those tasting stations can be quite filling.
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Old Jul 25th, 2006, 06:03 PM
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With 7 people in your group, Costco is great for some of the basics but Starrsville is right - it's easy to get carried away and end up with more than you need for a week. We took my mother-in-law with us a couple years ago and stopped at Costco as soon we left the airport. She thought the porkchops looked good and INSISTED we buy the 5+ pound package for the three of us. There are only so many ways you can cook porkchops (believe me I know). We had hoped to go out to dinner two or three times times but because of the neverending porkchops (and the other things we bought in bulk) we missed out on a lot of local cuisine.
Nice thing though about Costco - it's not that far from Wailea. If there is something you really wish you'd bought, you can always go back (seems like it took us about 30 minutes to get there and not a bad drive). Have fun!
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Old Jul 25th, 2006, 08:33 PM
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Costco is good, just be careful to not overbuy for your stay. With a total of 8 people, it shouldn't be that much of an issue.
 
Old Jul 25th, 2006, 10:30 PM
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I think you will do well making stops at both Costco and Safeway. At Costco, you can get not only groceries, but beach gear such as towels, boogie boards, snorkels, books, magazines, CDs, etc. Costco Prices will be better than Kihei prices. Buy only the groceries at Costco that you can use, and buy other items in smaller sizes at Safeway.
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Old Jul 27th, 2006, 08:42 AM
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We always stop at the Costco on the Big Island before we go to our hotel. We buy beer, sodas and snacks. And my husband always buys a new Hawaiian shirt. They're well made and are low priced. Also, if you need a book to read on the beach, Costco has all the latest with good prices.
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Old Jul 28th, 2006, 05:17 PM
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Yes, definitely stop at Costco. If you haven't been to Hawaii before you'll be shocked by the prices at the local supermarkets. Costco's prics are closest to "mainland" prices than any other store in Hawaii. Besides you can pick up a copy of "Maui Revealed" discounted at Costco.
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Old Jul 29th, 2006, 06:08 PM
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Definitely hit the Costco. Prices are much better and great selection of everything. (I recommend the macadamia nut honey wine from Volcano.) You may also want to go to the Walmart that nearby.
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Old Jul 29th, 2006, 07:50 PM
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Had a large group there in May for our daughter's wedding. My husband insisted that we get a cosco card, before we left home. We shopped there once, but, I don't think I would do it again, even with our large group. You just over buy at those kind of stores. We shopped at several other stores. Loved the Whole Food Stores. We were always so busy, and everyone going in different directions, we didn't really cook that much. We did always start off with a good breakfast. One thing our cosco card did save us on, was our car rental. I got an amazing deal on their website, and used there code. It beat every other offer on a van. Have a great time. My husband would disagree with me, and tell you to go to cosco!!!
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Old Jul 30th, 2006, 09:46 AM
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After many trips to Maui I finally hit the Costco. My sensation was one of being transported back home. I don't want that sensation!
I shop at the Star Market and Foodland in Kihei. When I'm there I feel as though I am in Hawaii.
The produce is unique, the meat counter is unique and there are many other interesting and different products for sale that you find only in Hawaii.
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Old Jul 30th, 2006, 10:54 AM
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Aloha..
Had to laugh at the last post about not going to Costco because they didn't want that "sensation"...
Foodland is a huge Grocery Chain in Hawaii and it rivals Safeway..
How about the traffic from Kihei to Lahaina..just like being in LA..there is another "sensation"..
Oh and let's not forget those prices at spending at the local Grocery store..Ouch..
Costco is one of the cheapest avenues to get the most for your dollar for all of the big staples that one needs in Hawaii..Cocktail Materials, Snacks and usually we get some Ahi and marinate for poke and then go to the local produce stands and small markets for the other stuff..
I spend no more than 15 minutes and I saved a huge savings..
Face it..Maui is not like it used to be and the onslaught of every single person who has found the place is not as appealing to us long timers that have been going to Maui for over 25+years and to wait in traffic for over an hour to get a couple of miles is not the "sensation" that I want to experience but if I do then I'll go to Foodland Supermarket and feel like I am right back on the Mainland and whip out my Maika'i card and save a couple of cents..
Most of all of the locals shop at Costco because it saves them money and usually you will find the tourist at Foodland, Star and Safeway where they can jack the prices for us Haole's..
Aloha nui loa!
 

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