Flying food from mainland to Hawaii...what is NOT permitted?

[UWSurfer]

We've been to Hawaii many times over the years, our last stay in 2019 just ahead of the Pandemic and we have two weeks planned starting next week. Typically we stop at the Costco at each Island, purchase steak and chicken, a case of water and a few other items, then fill in the smaller items from the local grocery stores. Still we have found pricing to be 30 to 50% higher than the mainland generally.

We are flying Hawaiian Airlines and were thinking with the 50 lb suitcase limit we could add some food to bring us up to the limit and save some money as we typically pack light flying there. Thinking of cooking oil, Pam, spices, maybe some canned goods, tortillas, maybe a loaf of bread. Is anyone aware if any of these items are not permitted to be flown in with checked bags?

Also considering brining a Brita pitcher & reusable water bottles for us. What does the group mind say?

 

[DeniseM]

Waaaaay too much trouble! We bring carry-ons no matter where we are going or for how long.

This is how I look at it - let's say you save $50 by bringing food from the mainland (I think that is generous.) The question I would ask is: If we were traveling together, would you be willing to drag my heavy suitcase around for me for the whole trip, for $50? (Assume that I'm able bodied - I just don't want to do it myself.) I certainly would not! The extra work, weight and inconvenience is not worth $50 to me. YMMV

 

[Luanne]

My "group mind" says not to bring that much. We do bring a good knife, as the one in the timeshare units are usually bad, and my husband brings tea bags. We just bite the bullet and buy what we need when we get there. We have found that for the past few years we end up eating out more than we used to in earlier trip when our daughters were young. I don't think you need a water filter. We have started using refillable water bottles and have had no trouble with the tap water.

But I have read successful accounts from folks who have brought pretty much everything except the kitchen sink and were very happy.

 

[marmite]

The items you list would be allowed in checked bags. Even frozen meat is apparently okay if originating in the US. However, I agree with the previous posts.

We like to buy locally, buying different brands and foods than we would at home. They have fantastic bakeries, so I would leave the bread for sure. We actually don't want to eat what we eat at home, and we like to travel with carry-on only (canned goods won't work with our plans!).

I do bring extra coffee filters, a good (but short) pair of tongs, a piece of foil, a few storage bags and one seasoning I can only buy by mail-order. That all fits in one Ziploc freezer bag. Bringing the filters, foil and storage bags are not even to economize, I just don't want to have to make space for full size packages in my luggage when I return.

 

[clifffaith]

I’ve brought cereal because I think it is so expensive there. Last trip I brought granola (which we don’t eat at home due to high calorie count) because it was on sale for $3 and it was sturdy enough to withstand lugging around (unlike corn flakes!). And packets of oatmeal with a baggie of nuts and raisins. Always bring zip locks, mini chip clips and tin foil.

 

[UWSurfer]

Thank you so far for your thoughts.

I checked Hawaiian Airlines and got their list of items permitted and prohibited, and I got TSA's list pertaining to food and all looks permissible. Coffee Filters and some ground coffee is typically in my list of take along as well. This trip we do a week on the Big Island and a week in Maui. The problem with purchasing a case of water is we typically have to leave the extra bottles behind and then repeat. This year we have my brother along who has insatiable thirst so refilling a Britta seems like a good approach...and we might just wait and purchase it at Costco on the Big Island if they have them in stock.

I agree heavier suitcase isn't ideal, but it's really only an issue for the initial trip. We will eat some of it down and potentially save some money. I'll report back here how it goes.

 

[geist1223]

¿Taking Coffee to Hawaii?

 

[DeniseM]

Since my husband's open heart surgery, I am trying to buy lean meats, healthy fats, and low salt foods. But my husband leans to the tight-wad side. So at the grocery store when he complains: "Geez, the low salt marinara sauce is $2 more than the house brand!" I say, "You have $XXX in the stock market and $XXX in the bank, so if you save $2 on a jar of marinara, what are you going to do with it?" Or I say, "I will put the $2 on your desk when we get home."

 

[Luanne]

I also want to add about the water. We used to buy flats of the bottles of water. But we're trying to cut back on the use of plastic so we're using refillable water bottles. It's also nice to have them when we're traveling as we can fill them in the airports and avoid having to buy pricey bottles of water. As I said earlier I don't think a water filter system is necessary. We have found no problems with the tap water.

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

I’ve brought cereal because I think it is so expensive there. Last trip I brought granola (which we don’t eat at home due to high calorie count) because it was on sale for $3 and it was sturdy enough to withstand lugging around (unlike corn flakes!). And packets of oatmeal with a baggie of nuts and raisins. Always bring zip locks, mini chip clips and tin foil.Ce

When we travel, we generally adapt our diet to what is local. That way we get to experience foods that we can't get locally, and that highlight the foods that are available locally.

In Hawaii, we might bring a few simple items such as cereal and maybe tortillas and cheese. However, so much of the local food is far better than anything we can get on the mainland - particularly in the farmers markets. Local seafood is awesome. Local chicken and eggs are great. Ahi and ono - I'm almost drooling already.

So many fruits that are seldom available on the mainland, or where what is sold on the mainland is inferior to what is available on island. Mangoes, avocados, guavas, papayas, bananas, plantains, etc., that show how insipid our mainland options are for those items. Buying locally also means that you are supporting local producers, which supports the local island economies.

 

[SmithOp]

¿Taking Coffee to Hawaii?

We do, Pete's Dark Roast water processed Decaf. We have noticed a distinct lack of water processed decaf in Hawaii.

 

[klpca]

I don't mind packing some food because 1) cost 2) I have some food sensitivities so I know what I can eat without issues 3) I hate throwing away things that we don't use up (although it is always offered to the staff) and 4) I hate having to do a long shopping trip on vacation. I don't mind a quick run to the store but if I have to shop for everything it gets our trip off on the wrong foot.

That said, sometimes I don't get around to packing staples and have to do the typical two shopping trips (Costco & Foodland). It always kills the first day of vacation.

 

[DeniseM]

We do, Pete's Dark Roast water processed Decaf. We have noticed a distinct lack of water processed decaf in Hawaii.

The Decaf from Kauai Coffee Company, on Kauai obviously, is water processed. Or so we were told when we did their tour.

 

[easyrider]

Thank you so far for your thoughts.

I checked Hawaiian Airlines and got their list of items permitted and prohibited, and I got TSA's list pertaining to food and all looks permissible. Coffee Filters and some ground coffee is typically in my list of take along as well. This trip we do a week on the Big Island and a week in Maui. The problem with purchasing a case of water is we typically have to leave the extra bottles behind and then repeat. This year we have my brother along who has insatiable thirst so refilling a Britta seems like a good approach...and we might just wait and purchase it at Costco on the Big Island if they have them in stock.

I agree heavier suitcase isn't ideal, but it's really only an issue for the initial trip. We will eat some of it down and potentially save some money. I'll report back here how it goes.

We occasionally loaded heavy with food for Hawaii, especially the first four years after the heart attack. The Britta filter sounds like a good idea. We drink the tap water in Hawaii and haven't ever had a problem. Prior to health problems we usually loaded a suitcase full of steaks, seafood and deli meats because there were feeding others. Now days we just go out.

Bill

 

[letsgobobby]

we bring:
cereal/muesli
nuts
coffee (ground at home) and tea, and coffee filters
snacks for the plane
spices like cumin, salt, pepper
a small container of olive oil and a stick of butter so we don’t have to buy large quantities, and a small amount of shredded cheese
sometimes we’ll bring wine if we’re checking as the wine here is much better than anything you can easily get in Hawaii

we mostly just eat breakfast in the room - we buy eggs, cheese, milk locally, and we buy about 20 papayas the day we arrive which ripen over the week. otherwise we eat out.

we buy pog and soft drinks. We usually go to costco just to get arare, poke, and sometimes drinks and snacks but last time we skipped it and lived.

 

[ScoopKona]

I feel sorry for the tourists who -- when surrounded by the incredible food bounty of the Hawaiian islands -- head to Walmart or Costco and buy the same stuff they already get at home.

Bringing raw ingredients to Hawaii is sort of like saying, "I'm traveling to Germany. I'm going to pack as much beer as I can carry into my checked baggage."

Or, "Off to Italy. I'm going to pack all the Tombstone frozen pizza I can!"

Or, "Heading to China -- with a 50-pound sack of rice!"

I know some people who simply don't care what they eat. "It all ends up the same place." So they live on a diet of packaged ramen, Chef Boyardee, Hot Pockets and fast food. If someone like that goes on vacation, then, sure, why not just bring the cheapest stuff possible?

Instead, I'd go straight to a small, local market. Buy local fish, local produce, and Lum's Char Siu sauce (they should pay me for all the times I mention them). I'd buy some frozen coconut cream (every store has this), panko flakes and make some coconut mahi. Get some mac-nut pesto at a farmer's market to spoon over the mahi.

The best tomato I've ever eaten grows in Hawaii. The best fish, crab and lobster I've ever eaten grows in Hawaii. (Yes, crab and lobster at the aqua farm -- pumping water from 12,000 feet down for the perfect cold-water environment.) Best avocados. Best guava. Best papaya. Best mangos. Best citrus. And even for the things where Hawaii isn't the best (beef, for instance) it's still WAY better than most of the beef found on the mainland. It's not A5 Kobe. But it's better than what can be found at Piggly Wiggly.

 

[letsgobobby]

strangely I don't want to eat any of those things for breakfast. except papaya which I eat 2 a day on a slow day.

we will sneak malasadas or mochi or poi donuts once in a while but local food is so sweet and heavy that staying pretty low sugar and high fiber high protein for breakfast feels nice. Also we spend a lot eating out lunch and dinner and don't need to spend $100 for açai bowl and coffee before 8 am.

strangely I also don't like kona coffee. I've had it a dozen times prepared at home and ohana and in restaurants. i prefer our coffee from home.

 

[rickandcindy23]

We have travel spice containers that we refill each time. Bought them at Costco. We do bring cooking oil spray as well. No real food. We do bring containers to store leftovers. We have been known to bring an electric griddle a time or two for pancakes, when the kids come to Maui with us as well. Rick has also been known to bring a sharp knife and a non-stick omelet pan.

 

[TravelJoy]

We've been to Hawaii many times over the years, our last stay in 2019 just ahead of the Pandemic and we have two weeks planned starting next week. Typically we stop at the Costco at each Island, purchase steak and chicken, a case of water and a few other items, then fill in the smaller items from the local grocery stores. Still we have found pricing to be 30 to 50% higher than the mainland generally.

We are flying Hawaiian Airlines and were thinking with the 50 lb suitcase limit we could add some food to bring us up to the limit and save some money as we typically pack light flying there. Thinking of cooking oil, Pam, spices, maybe some canned goods, tortillas, maybe a loaf of bread. Is anyone aware if any of these items are not permitted to be flown in with checked bags?

Also considering brining a Brita pitcher & reusable water bottles for us. What does the group mind say?

Bringing food in was not any issue we landed and started our trip in Kauai and there were no ag inspections. just don't bring live plants or fruits as they can bring pests and destroy local wildlife. We brought with us cooking utensils, spices, dry items such as lentils, quinoa few other such items that would otherwise be expensive or no found there. You can essentially bring whatever you like it's far more convenient then of course pickup other foods from local stores. Tropical fruit is still lacking in Hi better in Mexico by far

 

[UWSurfer]

Admittedly its been several years since I bought coffee on Kona, but when we went and bought directly from the grower, the make up of "Kona" coffee was a mix of several sources, maybe 20% actually was from Kona. That isn't to say we won't buy some while there but like all things the buyer must beware.

 

[Eggrollcreative]

Costco is same price in Hawaii…we checked, and some things they have for the locals are extra yummy. That said, I always bring fruit I’ve dehydrated to a crisp almost and a container of protein and one of fiber and we have shakes every morning for breakfast. I have been known to toss in a few microwave popcorns, and zipfizz or hydration multiplier packs to make the water more drinkable (good idea to buy a brita filter! I’d get it at the Hawaii costco though, pass it on to someone at the resort when you go!). We get a lot of our food at Grocery Outlet in WA so I’ve brought nuts, cereal, crackers and sardines, sauce and spice mixes, protein/snack/fiber bars etc I picked up for a song. I have a little doo dad you put oil in and it sprays it out and I have brought that for my oil, so Im not schlepping a whole bottle. But studios don’t have stoves typically so only if I have a kitchen, obviously. While we are there we go to Quixotes in the late afternoon for sushi or find Happy Hours with reasonable food deals. Our favorite is the yardhouse with half priced appetizers and pizzas most weekday afternoon, we order more than we can eat usually so take home leftovers and that’s our lunch the next day. You have to have the poke nachos! There was a place in the Waikiki Food Hall that had $5 burger and a beer on Tuesdays… that was 3 years ago…we would also comb the AbC stores for half priced food items at the end of the day. Tried some yummy stuff that way! Manapuas for lunch at 7/11 at least one time. And the noodle house that makes the noodles right in front of you is affordable also. Will be there this fall!

 

[geist1223]

"Kona" Coffee sold in Grocery Stores only has to be 10% Kona to carry the Name on the Label. So read the Label carefully. Kaua'i Coffee is always 100% Kaua'i. When we buy from the Coffee Grower it has always been 100% from their Farm. Costco usually carries 100% Kona but normally only in Whole Bean. But they have Coffee Grinders for the Costomer to use. Our favorite Hawaii Coffee was a Bean only grown on Maui. Their Roasting and Bagging Facilty; and, Store were destroyed in the Fire.

 

[TolmiePeak]

Waaaaay too much trouble! We bring carry-ons no matter where we are going or for how long.

This is how I look at it - let's say you save $50 by bringing food from the mainland (I think that is generous.) The question I would ask is: If we were traveling together, would you be willing to drag my heavy suitcase around for me for the whole trip, for $50? (Assume that I'm able bodied - I just don't want to do it myself.) I certainly would not! The extra work, weight and inconvenience is not worth $50 to me. YMMV

Exactly. Bringing canned goods to save 50 cents? Seriously?

 

[TolmiePeak]

. And even for the things where Hawaii isn't the best (beef, for instance) it's still WAY better than most of the beef found on the mainland. It's not A5 Kobe. But it's better than what can be found at Piggly Wiggly.

Aren't the steaks I buy at the Lihue Costco coming from the same place as the ones I buy at the Seattle Costco?

 

[marmite]

Bringing food in was not any issue we landed and started our trip in Kauai and there were no ag inspections. just don't bring live plants or fruits as they can bring pests and destroy local wildlife. We brought with us cooking utensils, spices, dry items such as lentils, quinoa few other such items that would otherwise be expensive or no found there. You can essentially bring whatever you like it's far more convenient then of course pickup other foods from local stores. Tropical fruit is still lacking in Hi better in Mexico by far

What? Tropical fruit is lacking and better in Mexico? Maybe @ScoopKona can point you in the right direction for your next trip. Did you show up at the end-of-day at a supermarket? It will be a sad day if I can't find good fruit in Hawaii.