Grocery Prices in Maui (Pics) (Wahiawa, Kailua: 2009, lease, closing)

[Sweetbeet]

To Maui08: No, I eat the bagels for breakfast. And I have large stores of Cheerios (for my son, who alternates between bagels and cereal) and coffee from Costco, already on hand. I bought the milk for the cheerios, that was the gallon of 1%. I also happen to have a couple of blocks of cream cheese that I bought on sale at Safeway, I think they are something like 3 for $5 right now.

For lunch I usually eat leftovers from dinner. My son will eat PB&J (notice I bought bread; have the PB on hand, we make starfruit preserves for the J), cuponoodles (his choice), or leftovers. My husband eats, well, I dunno. He eats weird. I don't pay much attention to his eating during the day.

Tonight I put out a spread including shrimp, some frozen pupus from Costco, fresh pineapple (bought during said shopping trip), avocado, lettuce and starfruit from the yard, boursin cheese (also bought yesterday at Safeway, I didn't say I'd listed EVERYTHING), crackers (ditto), crab dip from Costco, homemade cookies, chips and dip. We will have leftovers from that 'meal' at least one night this week, there is gobs leftover. It's our once/year 'grazing' meal, a tradition. I didn't say this was a typical week; if anything, we bought MORE unusual and expensive stuff this week.

Tomorrow we'll have the pork roast and yams from the described shopping trip, and some green beans I got at Costco today. Probably Christmas cookies, and leftover banana bread (made from scratch from some bananas from a friend's yard) for dessert. There might be enough leftover from a 6 lb. roast to make something else with the leftover pork, maybe enchiladas? So I might have to pick up some tortillas, I think we're out.

The chicken thighs, plus rice or noodles we already have on hand, and fruit (there is almost a whole pineapple leftover from tonight, there's always starfruit) or veggies (bok choy, broccoli, or beans) will make at least two more meals. We'll make chicken curry, shoyu chicken, chicken with broccoli (chinese style), or something else those nights.

So that's four or five dinners. I also got three potpies, which we'll have one night (there's usually one night we don't feel like cooking).

We will have fed my sister, niece and mom with the roast, shrimp and chicken thighs, so one or the other of them may feed us one night (last night my mom made beef stew for all of us, for example). That's a trade - we feed mom 5 nights, she feeds us one night, one night we're all on our own. Or, if mom's not up to cooking, sis cooks, or buys us chicken bakes from Costco and makes a salad (she's not much of a cook). Or, we do have some stuff in the freezer from prior trips, maybe there's some ground beef and I can make chili (served with chips, or mashed potatoes).

That's what we eat. I didn't list everything I bought (can you remember EVERYTHING you bought on your last trip?), as I said, "plus lots of other stuff", and I admit that I do have a fairly well stocked kitchen and freezer. But I have to restock a few things each week, and this one was no exception. I happen to have the granola bars that my son prefers for a snack (got a ton at Costco last week), and also the granola that I buy in bulk and have for breakfast one or two mornings/week (I get that at CostULess).

As I said, I would need to spend about $30 more at Costco, which I did today. (OK, it was closer to $50, but we got crab dip for tonight's party - ended up inviting some friends over - and some extra crab legs to 'beef' it up a bit. Man, was it good!)

[hotzcatz]

Originally Posted by JuliaHuff

Costco does not have everything-it does not stock radishes, very few fresh berries, etc, you cant buy everything there. Foodland is very expensive, and the food is bad quality-produce is often spoiled. from what you did not capture-my favorite was almost $9 for a small box of rasberries, $8 for skinny cow ice cream.
they are opening Whole foods here, i wonder how much they are going to charge over there? I am afraid to even think about it...
As for growing stuff, i dont know how you guys manage-we planted everything we could-tomatoes, cucumbers, herbs, nothing grows, it is barely out of the ground, cucumers fall off before they are ripe. We are experienced growers, my mom grows everything in Siberia, with much worse climate and short summer. Over here it just does not grow. We spent more money on buying soil, fertilizer, and poisons for insects who eat whatever we plant...

Growing a garden in Hawaii is completely different than Siberia, it is probably easier in Siberia, believe it or not. We have at least four different types of fruit flies which "sting" the fruit so it falls off the vine before it gets ripe. We also don't get enough "chilling hours" for many types of vegetables and fruit trees so the specific variety of what you grow also makes a huge difference.

Here's a few websites for Hawaii gardening info:
Agricultural Diagnostic Service Center - Seed Program
Farmers Bookshelf
Hawaii
DWN: Garden Compass: Chill Out!

[Mrs. Fast]

What about Lichee?

[Mrs. Fast]

When I lived there (left in 2000), we would go to Safeway for most of the groceries for a family of six and got out of there for around $170. Granted, we ate lots of rice and stir fry.

[Mrs. Fast]

We also knew all of the local places to buy fruit and fish. A whole parrot fish was around $20.00. We did not have A/C, we just let the tradewinds through at noon and 5pm, and used a fan for the rest. We grew a lot of our own fruit (pineapple, papaya, limes, avacado, peppers) and would pick up mangos from tree's in the area. If you know where to go, you can eat for pretty cheap. Eggs were all over from all of the chickens running around. If you were adventurous you could catch chicken or pig and eat meat for free. (I wasn't that adventurous but my neighbors were). There are a lot of family picnics as well and they are always wanting to feed you pupu's. There are also well kept secrets, small food resaurants that are a great deal. Katsu chicken for 5.99 (enough to eat on for 3-4 days). You just have to make connections and you'll be alright

[Mrs. Fast]

I never really had a problem with the price for clothing there. Did you look around you and see what everyone wears? Clothing is very simple (at least on Maui), if you are well dressed, you are a tourist and there is an attitude about those.

[konakathie]

I lived on the Big Island for 7 years and hope to mave back someday soon....I just ate more of the fruits I could grow easily and trade with my neighbors, and less of the processed stuff that costs a fortune from the mainland. Made my own pizza, bread (with a brand-new bread machine I found one day at the DUMP!) and ice cream--Mango sorbet from my tree was awesome- just some sugar, pureed mango, and a touch of lemon juice-no ka 'oi! Ate more fish and rice. Oatmeal instead of processed cereal. Stuff like that, plus club cards, costco, bakery outlet stores and farmer's markets were what helped us keep things reasonable.
We always told ourselves, hey, we aren't spending it on heat/air conditioning or fancy clothes, so-?

[jika]

We buy food the same place as everyone else: Costco, Foodland, Star Market, Safeway, Sack N Save, Pukalani Superette... Look for the best deals out there clip coupons... check ads, make food according to the ads in the paper.... It's expensive here, but we don't pay heating, don't buy winter clothes... don't deal with snow... Just rain, when we can get it!

[jenalove]

Originally Posted by jika

We buy food the same place as everyone else: Costco, Foodland, Star Market, Safeway, Sack N Save, Pukalani Superette... Look for the best deals out there clip coupons... check ads, make food according to the ads in the paper.... It's expensive here, but we don't pay heating, don't buy winter clothes... don't deal with snow... Just rain, when we can get it!

I was wondering when someone would mention coupons. Are they readily available in the Sunday paper just like on the mainland? I am an avid couponer here in Indiana and probably save about 50% every month on my food bill compared to when I did not coupon. Takes a little time but really helps in the long run.

[Balad1]

Originally Posted by jenalove

I was wondering when someone would mention coupons. Are they readily available in the Sunday paper just like on the mainland? I am an avid couponer here in Indiana and probably save about 50% every month on my food bill compared to when I did not coupon. Takes a little time but really helps in the long run.

Yes there are coupons in the Sunday paper but considering it is the same one that is in the mainland not all of the items can be purchased here. The best bets are coupons from the individual store flyers that normally come out on Wednesday. Also of course the Costco monthly coupon booklet.