Questions about Kauai (Lihue, Wailua, Lawai: home, buy, prices)

[Sweetbeet]

A couple of questions for longer-time residents of Kauai, if you don't mind.

(1) which farmers markets are the best, and when/where are they? is haggling expected, or are there set prices?

(2) could somebody please tell me where to take my recycling (nearest to Wailua area), and, if you know, when they are open?

(3) where do you buy computer stuff, like routers, and other electronics (I notice there is no BestBuy or Circuit City)?

(4) other than Costco/CostULess, which grocery stores do you find to be the cheapest: Safeway, Foodland, Big Save in Lihue, Star Market at the mall, or others?

Mahalo!

[Mar0]

1) In my opinion, all of the sunshine markets are similar, if not the same. I usually go to the Fri Lihue one, but also sometimes to the Monday Koloa or Tues. I usually see all of the same people at them. Here is a schedule: Kauai Hawaii Sunshine Markets : fresh island produce. Usually there is a Monday Lihue one, too.

I have never haggled, nor have I ever been with/seen anyone haggle (I am a little oblivious tho...). The prices are VERY cheap and I do not find a need to try to get a lower price, plus I enjoy supporting these extremely nice locals.

2) Here is a list of the recycling centers on island: Kauai County Recycling - Hawaii Bottle Bill - HI 5 Redemption Centers Map

It looks like the closest one would be in Kapahi or Lihue. My recycling center in Lawai is always open per se, but only pays out the Hi5 on certain days and times.

3) I buy comp stuff at Walmart or on a trip to Oahu. I bought my comp online at circuit city, however. It matters what you are looking for...

4) I am lazy and go to Big Save in Koloa or Ele'ele, b/c they are closest to me..but Star Market has a better selection and slightly better prices. I never go to Foodland. Safeway can be cheap, but depends on the food items- and you need a safeway card!

Hope that helps!

[Sweetbeet]

Mahalo - esp. for those links. I have a Safeway card, have used it several times (and discovered that if you forget your card you can just give them your phone number, that's helpful). I even bought a lei there yesterday (for my mom's 80th birthday, and her first on the island, I thought she should have one!). I'll have to check out Big Save. I thought 3 boxes of cheerios for $6 at Costco was pretty good! But gas at $4.40 is giving me a headache - good thing my Prius is scheduled to arrive tomorrow (woo hoo!).

BTW, if you see a red Prius with a black front bumper (it currently has a black fender also, but I'm going to have that painted red soon), that's me - I think it'll be unique around here. Honk and wave! I seem to be driving around a lot, even after the move-in period ends I'll surely be going to my office in Lihue most every weekday, and also down to the Y around 5 to pick up my son, then back home to Wailua. (The bumper and fender were primed, but not painted, after our collision in Nebraska during our cross-country trip. No time to paint them, we had to be on our way - as it was we had to add a week to our trip just to get the car fixed. We decided we like the bumper black and are going to leave it that way.)

Aloha!