mouseeeee

Will be staying in Maui for a week in a condo. Thought of going to Costco from the airport to stock up on stuff.

Curious to know what's on others shopping list when they go?

Here's the start of our list:

Bottled water
Disposable plates and cutlery (who wants to wash dishes on vacation)
Breakfast stuff
Granola bars for snacks
???????

sylvia3

The water in Hawaii is potable, as in the rest of the United States (unless that is made clear; haven't encountered that in the USA yet). You don't need bottled water.
Your condo probably has a dishwasher, so there is no need to buy disposable plastic ware, and a Costco-sized package will result in a lot of waste.
We buy a variety pack of sliced cheese, deli ham (breakfast and lunches, picnics), chips, croissants for breakfast and sandwiches (very good frozen and microwave to thaw), organic salad, coffee, steaks/chicken/hamburger/fish for the grill. Also booze and juice (POG).

sf7307

We don't do Costco, but we do Safeway or Foodland or Target. Our list looks much like Sylvia's, but I would add mustard, ketchup, mayonnaise, pickles, relish, English muffins, eggs, cereal, milk, tea, sugar/sugar substitute, orange juice, cranberry juice, Snapple, yogurt, butter, napkins.

kureiff

Wine
Beer
ahi poke
gas

We get everything else at the grocery store. We always buy breakfast items and fish to grill. We usually eat breakfast and dinner at the condo and go out for lunches.

AustinTraveler

Rotisserie chicken, wine, cheese, stuffed pasta, and more wine.

AustinTraveler

And I agree with bottled water. I do not like drinking unfiltered tap water.

FaceInTheCrowd

I'm not sure that Maui doesn't ship its garbage off to the continental US (or elsewhere), and I've observed that recycling programs in the islands are behind much of the rest of the country, so I'd encourage you to keep that in mind as you shop.

Our Costco list is typically just booze, beer, wine, POG, and/or snacks...stuff we know we'll consume while we're there. But we don't always stop, the decision dependent on how full the parking lot is. After a day of waiting at airports, 6 - 7 hours of flight time, waiting for luggage, and another line at the car rental agency, the last thing we want is another line in Costco. Just not worth the few bucks it saves, when we could instead be relaxing with a mai-tai at Hula Grill's Barefoot Bar.

crefloors

I always get Hawaiian Potato Chips..salty, greasy, and so good...and chocolate covered Macadamia Nuts. Great price for those at Costco.

We only get stuff for breakfast and munchies because honestly, I don't go there to cook.

Unless there have been big changes in the last few years, I don't think Hawaii recycles. Last condo was on the Big Island and we asked the gal who gave us the keys where the recycling container was and she said "oh, we don't recycle". That was about 6 years ago, so there may be changes.

Inakauaidavidababy

I love me some Maui Potato Chips. Unless it is for the experience, I wouldn't bother with Costco as you may spend more dollars and time then you would save. We usually head to a Foodland or other grocer, make sure we get an awards card and get bare minimals. You never know until you get to your rental what pantry items you will need.

Regarding recycling. This past year we brought all our trash and recylcling to two transfer stations on the Big Island from our house rental. We also recycled at our Hana rental and at Napili Kai. So the state is making progress, I think.

I don't think you will save more then pennies on water at costco and the other outlets - and I am a bottled water addict who recycles. And if your rental has a dishwasher - well that's simpler then waste. IMHO

NewbE

<mustard, ketchup, mayonnaise, pickles, relish, >
For a week?? If you eat it all, great. If you toss it, well, sorry, but shame on you. Ditto the paper plates and plasticware--this is a sorry American addiction. Washing dishes for two won't ruin your vacation, and if there's a dishwasher, no excuses.

I confess, I don't get Costco. I don't want institutional size containers of anything for a week in a condo! As a percentage of the cost of a Hawaiian vacation, saving even $20 at Costco does not seem worth the time and waste.

sylvia3

There is recycling on the BI.
Re: Costco size products.not everything is giant sized. Eggs, cold cuts,cheese, steak, fish sizes are very reasonable. Condiments are better purchased fron the supermarket. If you want to go even further, fresh produce from many farmers markets. Gas and booze prices provide significant savings.

raincitygirl

For a week's stay I wouldn't buy much from Costco, probably some beer, wine etc, but keep in mind Safeway often has a decent sale on those things. If we have friends there too and we are going to be BBQing then I get some meat at Costco. I get most things from Safeway and the farmer's market.

Last time I stayed in a condo in Wailea there were some re-cycling bins, and every condo I've stayed in (lots) has had a dishwasher and a full complement of dishes, cutlery etc. They are all different but most condos have some condiments etc in the cupboards.

You really don't need bottled water, we take our own re-fillable water bottles and I keep a jug or two of chilled water in the fridge. ( I like to put lemons or cucumber slices, some mint, to flavour it)

Please keep in mind that Maui is an island and has a very big problem with waste, I think most of it has to be barged off the island. There is way too much of the "to go" mentality still and with the thousands of tourists who buy plastic water bottles etc etc it is a huge problem that we all should do our part to stop.

One of my friends lives on Maui and manages rental units and she has not had to buy shampoo and conditioner for about ten years due to the huge containers people leave behind. You should see her liquor cabinet due to the same thing. She says the Costco size food items people leave behind are amazing: cereal, condiments, meat, cheese, snacks, you name it. She gives all the food and lots of the other stuff away to the locals who work on site, most of whom have families and are trying to survive on minimum wage.

NewbE

raincitygirl, I'm glad your friend reports that she knows people who can use that stuff. People I know who rent out their beach condos here in FL have no use for any more mustard/relish/ketchup/pickles/mayo and have trouble finding anyone who does. One soup kitchen in our area will take open containers of stuff, but most won't. Ditto shelters.

raincitygirl

NewbE, yes, I have been there to see her giving boxes and bags full of food etc to the fellows who do the gardening and maintenance and also some of the cleaning gals. Of course whenever we stay there she also gives us things. Much of it is unopened or barely touched.

Food is really expensive in Hawaii so to throw it out would be a real shame. She is a single lady so has no use for much of it although she complains/laughs about some of the treats she is tempted into eating, like fancy chocolates etc.

She has also filled me in on the problem they have all over the islands with garbage…not a pretty picture. She used to be a bartender at a golf course and couldn't believe the staff who would use a disposable cup for every quick drink of soda or water instead of using a glass or coffee cup. She tried to re-educate them (and this is YEARS ago, going back to the late '80's) but wasn't too successful.

I have no idea why anyone would use paper plates and plastic cutlery in a holiday rental anywhere.