Costco Hawaii Items: The Hits And Flops With Visitors

[DeniseM]

Costco Hawaii Items: The Hits And Flops With Visitors

So here's a list of things we highly recommend you look for and some flops you may want to avoid on your Hawaii vacation.

beatofhawaii.com

 

[ScoopKona]

I'd still go with Foodland (Sack-n-Save)/KTA/Choicemart.

1) The poke is head-and-shoulders better -- and considerably more variety
2) Costco doesn't sell Kona Chips or One Ton chips.
3) Lum's Char Siu sauce. Costco doesn't sell it. The local markets do. Sadly, there is no option other than "buy way too much" because nobody can use 11oz of Char Siu in a week or two. (Pro tip, some markets sell pre-marinated pork and chicken with Lum's.) And just a heads up -- anyone who finds themselves with leftover Lum's is welcome to drop it off at the farm. I'll put it to good use.
4) Dragonfruit, Passionfruit, local avocados, local citrus, local tomatoes and especially local onions. It's even better to buy these at farmer's markets (when possible). But the local supermarkets typically sell this and Costco does not. It chaps my posterior that Costco sells California avocados when I let 10,000 pounds of them rot on the ground every year for want of better options.
5) Coffee. Costco sells two Hawaiian varieties -- the two biggest producers. The smaller markets have much better options.
6) Finally, Costco sells mostly US stuff. There's nothing wrong with that. I like maple syrup as much as the next guy (probably more than the next guy). I buy brisket and make pastrami. I truly like Costco. That being said, the local markets have far more Asian foodstuffs -- everything you need to build a curry that would bring a tear to the eye of an auntie.

The big-picture problem with tourists shopping at Costco in Hawaii is that they tend to go there first, buy 10 days worth of food (for a one-week trip), and then that's that for food -- they're not going to buy from the smaller producers because they loaded up on corn dogs and Eggo waffles. I go there every couple weeks and that's what I always see -- people buying all the same stuff they can get at home.

 

[slip]

We let our Costco membership go shortly after we moved to Hawaii in 2019. In Wisconsin we lived an hour from the closest one but we would go about 4 times a year. We had a large house with plenty of space and also an extra freezer for bulk buying.

We used it for car rentals a couple times a year also. Then we would use it during our 2 week Hawaii vacations.

After we moved, we rented a small apartment with no space to store anything and no extra freezer. We also started to get better deals on rental cars with my corporate discount that goes through Hertz.

Now living on Molokai it still doesn’t make much sense to us. We purposely don't have a ton of room in our condo. That way we don't collect stuff but we do have enough room to keep some bulk items for our emergency supply. It is easy to keep that stocked buying locally.

For visitors, Costco in Hawaii does have some nice things to take home as gifts and souvenirs. They can work really well if you plan on cooking in your unit. Especially with a group of 4 or more.

It's always fun going through the Hawaii Costco to see what is different from the one back home.

 

[MOXJO7282]

Best thing about Maui Costco for us are the prime meats and fish that are well below any other price on the island. Mahi was $18 at Costco and everywhere else was $26-$28. Same with prime meats. Costco prime grade meats are an excellent value. They also have excellent fresh bread that is a very good value. Still always worth a stop for us. Good fruits also.

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

I'd still go with Foodland (Sack-n-Save)/KTA/Choicemart.

1) The poke is head-and-shoulders better -- and considerably more variety
2) Costco doesn't sell Kona Chips or One Ton chips.
3) Lum's Char Siu sauce. Costco doesn't sell it. The local markets do. Sadly, there is no option other than "buy way too much" because nobody can use 11oz of Char Siu in a week or two. (Pro tip, some markets sell pre-marinated pork and chicken with Lum's.) And just a heads up -- anyone who finds themselves with leftover Lum's is welcome to drop it off at the farm. I'll put it to good use.
4) Dragonfruit, Passionfruit, local avocados, local citrus, local tomatoes and especially local onions. It's even better to buy these at farmer's markets (when possible). But the local supermarkets typically sell this and Costco does not. It chaps my posterior that Costco sells California avocados when I let 10,000 pounds of them rot on the ground every year for want of better options.
5) Coffee. Costco sells two Hawaiian varieties -- the two biggest producers. The smaller markets have much better options.
6) Finally, Costco sells mostly US stuff. There's nothing wrong with that. I like maple syrup as much as the next guy (probably more than the next guy). I buy brisket and make pastrami. I truly like Costco. That being said, the local markets have far more Asian foodstuffs -- everything you need to build a curry that would bring a tear to the eye of an auntie.

The big-picture problem with tourists shopping at Costco in Hawaii is that they tend to go there first, buy 10 days worth of food (for a one-week trip), and then that's that for food -- they're not going to buy from the smaller producers because they loaded up on corn dogs and Eggo waffles. I go there every couple weeks and that's what I always see -- people buying all the same stuff they can get at home.

I agree with pretty much all of this, except for #3 - but that's because I don't know the Char Siu sauce. So I don't disagree - I just don't know.

One item I would add is that if you want to get real wasabi (and not green-dyed horseradish) you need to hit a local store. And even then, not all local stores have it. When we were in Waikoloa in April, I asked where they had wasabi. The clerk took me to one area. Then I asked if they had real wasabi, and she took me to another part of the store, where they kept the real stuff.

 

[SmithOp]

I always check the clothing, this past May I scored some nice shorts with zipper pockets, two pair for $13. I also bought 3 Shark golf shirts for $5 each, apparently Greg Norman attire was being closed out. My local didn't have these brands in CA.

We always buy Mac nut assortment for gifts. I bought meat and fish.

 

[jehb2]

The big-picture problem with tourists shopping at Costco in Hawaii is that they tend to go there first, buy 10 days worth of food (for a one-week trip), and then that's that for food -- they're not going to buy from the smaller producers because they loaded up on corn dogs and Eggo waffles. I go there every couple weeks and that's what I always see -- people buying all the same stuff they can get at home.

I understand your point. Before kids my husband and I would buy groceries at the old Foodland in Ala Moana mall back when it was still just a small grocery store. Even than a couple of bags of groceries at Foodland was (is) a lot. Once we had kids we were paying for 4 plane tickets to Hawaii and feeding 4 people. Luckily we found Daiei (now Don Quixote). Still, Costco is a godsend.

 

[bnoble]

The only thing we buy at Costco when in Hawaii is gas...and we did just make a stop at the Princeville Foodland a few minutes ago.

 

[ScoopKona]

I don't know the Char Siu sauce. So I don't disagree - I just don't know.

You've probably had it -- or at least some kind of Char Siu. (pronounced charr swee). Shockingly-red pork in the fried rice? That's char siu. Lum's makes a really good one which isn't just food coloring and sugar.

 

[PrairieGirl]

When I was a broke university student in 1975, the highlight of our weekend was to head to the North shore for the day and we changed buses at the Ala Moana shopping center. The Char Sui Bao at the bakery right across from the bus stop there were only 25 cents each and we always grabbed several for the ride. I miss them to this day! Oh, and their fruit moon cakes were delicious as well.

 

[kupool]

Gas at Costco!

 

[rickandcindy23]

The only thing we buy at Costco when in Hawaii is gas...and we did just make a stop at the Princeville Foodland a few minutes ago.

Tell me what you think of Shearwater. We own the two weeks there that we converted to Wyndham in 2008. I love it there. The nicest resort on Kauai, in our opinion. We wouldn't stay anywhere else. Rick thought Waiohai was just okay, really disliked the Marriott Kauai Beach in Lihue (I love that one), and he didn't think Bali Hai measured up to the "presidential" status for any unit.

 

[SandyPGravel]

You've probably had it -- or at least some kind of Char Siu. (pronounced charr swee). Shockingly-red pork in the fried rice? That's char siu. Lum's makes a really good one which isn't just food coloring and sugar.

Thank you...I was wondering too.

 

[ScoopKona]

Thank you...I was wondering too.

If you can find it in the Char Siu Bao (bun) that @PrairieGirl mentioned, that's the best possible option. Char Siu is a thing in Hawaii. Although Cantonese, it has been adopted as a pan-Asian item. Everyone eats it. It hits all the right notes for the Hawaiian palate -- when I go to beach get-togethers, this is almost always on the menu. Either Char Siu chicken or pork or both or buns.

Lum's makes a better version than I can make from scratch.

 

[DeniseM]

Char Siu Pork & Chicken:

 

[daventrina]

... Mahi was $18 at Costco and everywhere else was $26-$28. ...

But .... where did that $18 Mahi come from ? and how old is it? I don't think it was swimming in the ocean here the day before. Foodland and Times may be more ... but fresh caught is always better.

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

You've probably had it -- or at least some kind of Char Siu. (pronounced charr swee). Shockingly-red pork in the fried rice? That's char siu. Lum's makes a really good one which isn't just food coloring and sugar.

If you can find it in the Char Siu Bao (bun) that @PrairieGirl mentioned, that's the best possible option. Char Siu is a thing in Hawaii. Although Cantonese, it has been adopted as a pan-Asian item. Everyone eats it. It hits all the right notes for the Hawaiian palate -- when I go to beach get-togethers, this is almost always on the menu. Either Char Siu chicken or pork or both or buns.

Now that I know what is - yes, many times in pork buns and also BBQ pork and appetizers. When I worked in downtown Berkeley I regularly bought pork bao from a street vendor for lunch.

I also like the pork bao from Trader Joes. But I ignore the preparation instructions package; to get them right have to steam them.

 

[ScoopKona]

But .... where did that $18 Mahi come from ? and how old is it? I don't think it was swimming in the ocean here the day before. Woodland and Times may be more ... but fresh caught is always better.

Or you could go with the fish dude who sells out of the back of his truck at around $12 per pound. That's what I do.

I seriously have no love for Costco when it comes to local, Hawaiian things. None. I have plenty of love for Costco when it comes to Canadian maple syrup, Parmesan cheese, USDA prime meat and similar. Costco for Hawaiian foodstuffs crosses the line from frugal into cheap -- and I want no part of that.

 

[MOXJO7282]

But .... where did that $18 Mahi come from ? and how old is it? I don't think it was swimming in the ocean here the day before. Foodland and Times may be more ... but fresh caught is always better.

I think Costco has very good fresh fish in my experience.

 

[frank808]

You've probably had it -- or at least some kind of Char Siu. (pronounced charr swee). Shockingly-red pork in the fried rice? That's char siu. Lum's makes a really good one which isn't just food coloring and sugar.

Pronounced charr siew or char sue (close enough).

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[SmithOp]

But .... where did that $18 Mahi come from ? and how old is it? I don't think it was swimming in the ocean here the day before. Foodland and Times may be more ... but fresh caught is always better.

I purchased some Ono from a roadside vendor at the intersection outside Waikoloa, across from the helicopter base. The package looked suspiciously like Costco, but it saved me a trip down to Kona so I didn't mind. A few days later I saw the same woman at Costco pumps filling up with gas, QED.

I have been told by locals the same thing about the small swap meet in Kona, the produce comes from Costco.

 

[ScoopKona]

I purchased some Ono from a roadside vendor at the intersection outside Waikoloa, across from the helicopter base. The package looked suspiciously like Costco, but it saved me a trip down to Kona so I didn't mind. A few days later I saw the same woman at Costco pumps filling up with gas, QED.

I have been told by locals the same thing about the small swap meet in Kona, the produce comes from Costco.

Randy buys all his chicken and ribs from Costco as well -- and then makes huli chicken out of it which everyone stops for. Can't really fault him for that -- Costco is probably the only game in town (besides Sysco) which can handle that volume.

But for fish, I'll stick with the fish guy selling out of his truck. I know people who have sold excess catch to him. He's selling fish in ziploc bags with the weight written on the bag in sharpie. So clearly not Costco. (Or if it is, that's an awful lot of effort to make it not look like Costco.) Better prices, higher quality, more variety. Win-win-win.

I wish there was more of this sort of thing going on -- not just in Hawaii but everywhere. Every coastal community would do well to have a fish guy. And every place should have cheese guys, bread guys, and produce guys. I'd go as far as to say beer guys, too. But the craft breweries seem to have that going fairly well already. I've bought barbecue out of the back of a truck. Bread out of the back of a truck. Fruit out of the back of a truck. In fact, if there's a truck, I'm looking for a sign -- to see what they have. Hell, I'll slow down just because there's a truck and a person looking like there is commerce happening.

I'm planning on doing something similar. I even have the truck. But because I already live on a main tourist road, I don't need it. I'll just put a sign up: "Avocado toast and kalua pork all day" -- Millennial bait.

 

[magmue]

Costco doesn't sell Kona Chips or One Ton chips.

I could swear I have gotten One Ton chips at the Lihue Costco. So it may depend on which island you are on.

 

[SandyPGravel]

One Ton chips

Ok, now I had to look these up too.

I'm so out of the loop.

 

[Limace]

When we have gone to Maui, we’ve typically had 8+ people for two weeks-so we definitely hit Costco for items to cook in the unit, then pick up produce etc locally as we go. Juice, frozen chicken, ribs, salad mixes, chips and dips, wine!!!


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