Staples to bring from the mainland?
 

Six of us are going to Maui in a couple of weeks to celebrate a friend's 40th. We're renting a three-bedroom condo & planning to do a lot of eating (and drinking) at home to cut costs.

Are there certain items that we should bring from California because of price/availability? Obviously we don't want to fill our suit cases with our entire kitchens, but you get the picture. Or, should we forget it & just plan to hit Costco once we land on the island.

Thanks!

Unfortunately, the things that are priciest at Costco and other supermarkets in Hawaii are the very ones that are trickiest to transport because of weight/perishability (milk, juice) or bulk (cereal). Relax, just bring items that you MUST have in small amounts or specific brands (spices, tea bags, toiletries).

Also bring a couple dozen large Ziplock bags for storing leftovers and open containers.

You might want to bring some seasonings so you won't have to buy a whole new bottle. But everything is available here, and if you shop wisely, you'll find the prices aren't muich higher than in L.A. I personally find Costco to be a bit high in general, even on the mainland, but you pay for the convenience of buying larger quantities. I am a bargain shopper and for most items I can always do better than Costco, but being on vacation you might opt for a one stop. Be warned that it is just as crowded as a Costco on the mainland and wil take a while to get through the lines. I do shop at Costco for fish. They have the freshest fish at better prices than the supermarkets.

Foodland and Star Market are both very high. I shop at Safeway, but if it's not on sale, I don't normally buy it. You are going to find that the prices are artificially high at any place visitors to the island frequent.

You did not mention where you are staying, but if you are staying in Kihei, your very best bet is the Long's Drugs. This is where I buy my upcountry produce and local grown, all-natural beef from Ulupalakua Ranch. I don't eat beef, but my husband will not eat any mainland beef at all, only the Maui-grown, pineapple fed meat. You can also stock up on tuna, bread, snacks, and misc. items at Longs. I don't really shop at the Long's in Lahaina so I do not know how much produce or meat they stock up there. Also, Long's is the place for beer and wine.

Very helpful. Thank you.

Anyone else have any suggestions on where the lcoals shop for the best price/quality?

Where are you staying? I like to shop at Ooka's Supermarket when I'm in Wailuku, but it's not especially convenient for us in Kihei. I have a ton of other "secrets," including natural food and farmer markets.

Oh, and here is a trick I learned from my time-sharing MIL: she always packs the laundry detergent tablets, like Wisk Tablets. That way you have no messy powder, and you do not have to buy a big box when you are on vacation or pay inflated convenient store prices.

I can't help you with shopping but this is what we do when we rent a condo.

I always pack all of my kitchen stuff/food/semi perishables and pack them in a hard sided rolling cooler. Peanut butter and jelly, bread, coffee, non dairy creamer, splenda/equal, sleeve of solo cups, lots of crystal lite, and whatever else.

It's always a plus to have the cooler with us. You might also want to throw in a clean empty milk jug to mix the crystal lite in.

We always take a soft side cooler that has a hard plastic liner in it. Very light weight. My hubby uses it as his carry-on. It is the size that 12 cans would fit in plus a little more. We put in a few snacks, juice, water and frozen blue ice packs for us and our 2 boys for the plane ride to Maui. Then, when we get off the plane.. in go the jackets! This way we have a cooler/ice packs for the beach/car rides and extra room on the way home for Maui Wine and Chocolates! I also take large and small plastic bags for lunches and for camera and binoculars for excursions. We bought the cooler during our first trip to Maui so it has lots of memories too! We stay on Kaanapali beach and shop at Kmart by the airport and Safeways and Long's at the Cannery Mall.

Please excuse my hawaiian geography ignorance, but someone else has made all the arrangements.

We're staying at a place called Puamana, which I think is pretty close to Lahaina.

Thanks again for the tips -- keep 'em coming!

definately bring your spices. When they say they have a fully equipped kitchen it generally means pots and pans, etc not spices. I also bring peanut butter and jam and lots of zip lock bags. Things are costly in Hawaii so bring extra sun screen, and Aloe Vera Gel for that sunburn.

If you like good bread, rolls, pastries etc be sure and visit Stillwell's on the main road just out of Wailuku on the way to Kahului, right after the (only) underpass. You could do it after arrival if not too late or else on that insomniac first morning :)