Big Island Grocery Costs?
 

Hi
Someone told me a gallon of milk in Hawaii is $8 !!!! Is this true? (they didn't specify which island). We're going to be on the Big Island 12 nights.....will we go broke buying groceries and / or going out to eat? (I guess we can always eat coconuts).
Thanks

No. It's about $5. Groceries were more expensive, but not double what you pay on the mainland. Keep in mind that most things are flown over, so things that are bulky (cereal) or heavy (milk) will cost more.

I don't recall Big Island having that pricey of groceries. We shopped at Costco and Safeway in Kona. We had too much for 7 days, but you might be okay for 12 days. :-)
On Kauai, the groceries were definately higher.

Definitely shop at the farmer's markets for produce-the quality, variety and prices are amazing. The grocery store produce, in my experience, is flown in from the mainland and is expensive and terrible.

http://www.konaweb.com/konaweb/farmer.shtml

If you have a Costco card then definitely bring it along. It's good for stapes, including gas.

One of the nice things about Costco is they carry items like Mochi, kal-bi ribs, laulau, lomi lomi salmon, macadamia nuts.. specific to the Islands...I even bought a Peggy Hopper signed print framed in Koa once at Costco Oahu..
great place for take home gifts too..
I almost prefer to buy groceries than eat out..except maybe Roy's or Sam Choy...

Best yet...Costco is right by the airport and anyone who works there can give you directions!

I'm sure there is some supermarket in Hawaii that charges <b>tourists</b> $8 for milk. Locals are smarter than that and know the best places to buy groceries. So shop where the locals shop and not where the tourists shop.

On Kauai, Costco isn't going to be open until September sometime, but Wal Mart has a number of grocery items at reasonable prices. And while you are there try something new.

Alan

Thanks to all.
The Wal Mart on the Big Island has a grocery section?

We went to Costco and Wal-mart. Got dry goods at Wal-mart, syrup, peanut butter and jelly, water bottles, snacks, box of cereal, milk, etc. (We had kids with us.) Bought some groceries at Safeway, the other store (can't remember name) had poor choice. Avoid like the plague places like Outback steakhouse. Total ripoff. Loved Kona Brewing pizza, though. Went to every farmers market we could find. Froze fruit in the condo and made smoothies often. Went to Costco for cheesecake, bread, beer and other fresh things.

If you try to stick to what you buy at home it'll cost more but by eating whatever is locally available is cheaper.... bread varied in price considerably (we bought the brand on &quot;special offer&quot; that week and saved a dollar or two per loaf).

Loads of things are cheaper e.g papaya and we couldn't get enough of the local fruit!

Ditto above... buy local fresh produce from markets, patronize local bakeries, try to shop where local people shop not in tourist convenience stores, etc.

Thanks to everyone for the great tips!
Linda