costco Big island
 

Haven't been to this location before. Arriving next week and since it's close to the airport we will make a visit. Any favorite items to stock up on? A particular coffee? Snack? Proteins? Trinkets? Books? Fish? Flowers? . . . . . . .

Oh, and we will be on island for 2 weeks

Booze is a great deal. I think the Kirkland white wine is really nice ($7.99 for 1.5 L, I esp.like it for a mixer), rum, etc., and POG in a gallon jug.
They had a terrific new instant coffee drink that was mocha ( hot or cold) that I'm going to bring home next visit.
Eggs, English muffins, bread (exorbitant anywhere else), mixed cheese slices, cold cuts, ONO! Ahi, mahi, tri tip, and NY strip steaks. Also the poke is very good, and the pizza is a deal.
Maui chips, macadamia nuts (gift boxes), sometimes island soaps and lotions.
Of course, gasoline.
The gardeners where we stay let us cut fresh stalks of red ginger and other blooms from flowering shrubs (I always ask first, of course; they seem to be always trimming them, anyway).

Unless you're planning to drink a lot of booze, beer, or wine, or are low on gas, I don't know if I'd bother. Buy your fish at Da Fish House, flowers at a farmers market in Waimea, snacks at Hamakua Macadamia Nut Co., and shop for trinkets or other souvenir-type stuff in Hawi. We're still looking for a favorite place to buy coffee, but Mauka Meadows is an interesting experience.

You'll never make a memory at Costco, but you might as a result of visiting any of those other places.

We always enjoy visiting Costco when we are in Kauai, or any other island for that matter. It's fun to see the regional specialities. That said, the portions are generally too large for the 2 of us. We do buy a few bottles of wine, maybe a jug of the local Koloa Rum maitai mix, a bag of taro chips, things like that. I mean the mango cheesecake always looks luscious but for 2? And then we go to the smaller groceries and fish markets. Buy out souvenir macadamia nuts at the ABC store.

OTOH we filled a cart at the Costco in Novato CA on our way to the family vacation in Bodega Bay - 15 of us on holiday together.

"You'll never make a memory at Costco, but you might as a result of visiting any of those other places."

Actually a few years ago, on Kauai, I helped an elder Auntie to her car and load her car. She gave me her lei as a sign of aloha.

Of course I have plans to visit many farmers markets and local grocers. I am just interested in visiting a costco since we have 2 weeks in a gourmet kitchen overlooking a private pool, overlooking farm country, overlooking the ocean with sunrise and sunset in our path. Regardless where I shop, I am happy to leave larger pantry items for future guests. For instance, I would likely never buy the smallest size tin foil to save a few cents if the house ran out. If there is an oil or vinegar or sauce I like, I'll buy it use it and mark it with a sharpie for future guests.

I don't think I am doing an injustice to local vendors by visiting Costco. If they sell to Costco, to sell to me, how am I not supporting local industry?

I like the idea of bread. I recall how expensive it can be, so if I notice something, it will keep in the freezer over the two weeks.

I have been to a few coffee farms and wasn't impressed. Usually I buy at the grocer a local 100% Kona coffee, so why not buy a bit in bulk and leave the rest behind?

<I'll buy it use it and mark it with a sharpie for future guests.>
I have never stayed anywhere where they don't throw everything out before the next guests arrive. My SIL always stocks up for VRBO stays and always thinks that the stuff she leaves behind is welcome. Maybe the cleaning people take it, maybe the owners take it, but after a while, surely they have more oils and vinegars than they ever wanted.

NewB, You seem to be responding to my posts constantly negatively. It's rather uncomfortable at this point.

I am speaking of my personal travels, and if you have a second hand party/ SIL, you really don't know of what you speak. I have had many condiments, spices, soy/fish/oyster sauce, root vegetables and dry goods and canned goods, bottled water, alcohol etc.. left in a rental. And I have made good use of them.

I KNOW and have stayed at many vacation rentals where pantry items are left for future guests, or the staff. You have no reason to KNOW what the staff did after your SIL left. What they took, what they left.

Why are you stalking me? I was starting a nice thread here. Speaking honestly about my experience. Why question that?

When the condo we have visited several times changed ownership from South Kohala mngmnt/Outrigger to private, we were thrilled when there were leftovers in the fridge and spices, oils, etc. in the cupboard. The first time, there wasn't even salt and pepper! We asked the owner her policy the second time we rented, and she told us that she asked the cleaning staff to leave anything that was basically nonperishable or later expiration. We leave behind stuff now too, and I'm sure someone is happy to have 1/2 lb of coffee or whatever. That includes shampoos/body wash/sunscreen.
In two weeks, two of us can easily go through Costco-size stuff: 18 eggs, POG, rum, fish: maybe not 4 lbs of butter or 10 lbs of rice, but that's what Safeway's for!
(BTW, another great Costco breakfast item is croissants; they freeze beautifully, and you can use them for sandwiches, too. And the price is killer.)

If you're there for 2 weeks, and have a kitchen, it probably makes sense to stock up at Costco. Otherwise there's a large grocery store in Kona.

Personally, I hate to shop when on vacation. But it's great to have coffee, cereals, eggs, bread, juice, bagels, etc. on hand for breakfasts.

We always seem to purchase way too much, though. Have been known to bring home the extras in our luggage, when possible.

PS The Kona Inn Restaurant is a great place for fresh fish sandwiches, sitting on their deck at waterside. It's one of the few inexpensive places we found, to get a bite and be able to sit overlooking the water.
http://www.windandsearestaurants.com/konainn/home.htm

There are a number of things we stock up on at the Kauai Costco. We do buy some wine, and we buy Koloa Rum to take home. They carry the Kauai eggs for less than the $9 a dozen they sell for at local grocery stores. They usually have the fresh wild Kauai shrimp. Fruits and veggies we buy from the sunshine markets.

We stay for a month, and like to do one stock-up right after we get there rather than going back and forth to Lihue.

Enjoy your time on the big island - it's the only one I haven't visited.

"I am happy to leave larger pantry items for future guests. For instance, I would likely never buy the smallest size tin foil to save a few cents if the house ran out."

Kudos to you, and we feel the same way, but doesn't that kind of defeat the purpose of going to Costco in the first place? We'd rather spend the few dollars more to patronize local stores/shops/markets, where in our experience, there's greater opportunity to interact with local culture.

I see throngs of locals at Costco and Safeway, people as cost conscious as I. Where I see tourists? The farmers markets.

Relatively inexpensive, I meant to say.

sylvia, I bet if you went to a farmers market you might also recognize a few locals you saw at costco picking up crates of produce to sell at the farmers market!

We always do carryon and leave our shampoo and suntan lotion and bug spray behind. I tend to try to visit our lodging to see what's available before buying. I've also left sunblock and bottled water with the rental car agents who are always appreciative.

And Da Poke Shack is great for an impromptu sit-in-the-park
lunch (we always have beach chairs in the trunk).

Water, POG, bread, flowers, wine, liquor, beer and of course, the dreaded "Blue Bible"(for maps, of course!)
Where you staying? Have fun! Miss you and the other person on da brick in Kauai!!!!

Inaka, get the heck over yourself. Or spend more time in the Lounge to work out your aggression.

Meanwhile, I will comment when and where I feel like it, 'kay? Just because my personal experience isn't useful to you does not mean it won't be to others, and it's certainly no reason to pick a fight.

I'm sorry, but "stocking up" for a two week vacation is dumb.

As I said, the last thing I want to do on vacay, is spend time inside a store.

Arriving without toiletries would not be something I'd do.

I know people say, if you forget something, you can easily 'buy it there'. No, you can't. Not unless you don't mind what toiletries you use, because you can't easily find your favorite shampoo/deodorant/sunscreen, and you'll likely pay dearly for what you find.

Just get travel-sized containers, if you refuse to check a bag.

Aloha little nita!

No Blue Bible for me. Little Andy won't be getting any of my money for causing as much damage to the islands as the sugar lords.

We have rented a private home in Kohala Ranch a gated,cooperative, free range working cattle and horse ranch. It is a gift to return to this property. I will spend time cooking while overlooking our pool which overlooks ranch land and the passing barges.

Ridddle me this batgirl, if Costco sells local eggs, local fish, local meat, local flowers, How am I not supporting the community by making a quick stop while I'm down in that area? How is going to the supermarket or drugstore more supportive to small business? Besides the fact that rather then a miles journey it would be 8 miles up to the village and down or many more up to Waimea, where we would have to travel back down to check in at the lower main gate.

So many strong opinions on what I thought would be a simple fun thread.

Haven't visited the brick in a few years. The Island of Hawaii, and this home bit us.

Aloha