my husband and i are going with a large group (14) to kauai in september. we're all staying in the same (large) house together for a week. big, beautiful kitchen, plenty of room to cook.
i understand groceries are a bit more expensive on the islands. of course we'll have some meals out, but we're going to try to eat in as much as possible. how much should we budget for groceries for a week? would you compare hawaii costs to italian - similar budget? we all love seafood, is it cheaper there? we'll be on the north side of the island, where's the best place to grocery shop? is there a farmer's market we could check out?
pauline, i read your trip report. it was very helpful, and i even have the book, which has been great in planning thus far. just looking for a bit more insight into the food situation.
Lately it occurs to me what a long, strange trip its been
Alyssa, I found food in the groceries in Kauai to be insanely expensive. I bought stuff to make two salads and sandwiches for seven people and it was $80!
I have friends that go every year and swear by the avocados, which they say you can find at roadside stands.
My advice would be to bring some items from home. Since there will be 14 of you, everyone can bring a few things. I am thinking sugar, flour, spices, mustard and mayo, stuff like that. This will cut down on your food costs alot. Bring whatever you can that is not perishable. Also if you plan on making cocktails, bring some liquor with you.
There is a good wine shop in Lahaina called Mr. Wine. If you are on the south shore it is worth a stop.
Hi Alyssa! I am sorry to say that I never keep track of food prices and we don't eat "normal" so cannot give you good advice. I did notice that natural foods store things seem about 20% more expensive than at home but overall it did not feel more than maybe 15% more expensive (but, really, I could be wrong).
There are large regular supermarkets on the island. There is a big one near Princeville, just before you get to Hanalei. The lighthouse town has an excellent bakery.
We have a few members on the board who live in Kauai - I will email them and ask them to post here with better advice.
Kauai has weekly markets in most towns. There will be one in Hanalei and in that lighthouse town (Kilahuea sp?) on the north shore. There are roadside stands in Poipu on the south shore where we stay, but I have seen them in Hanalei too. We usually buy fruits and vegetables at these. You can get local avocados, papaya and other things. Do NOT buy the spinach - it is just weird and stings your mouth if you don't cook it exactly right.
(Shannon, Lahaina is on Maui - Alyssa is going to Kauai!)
Have a great trip! That guidebook that I recommend on my Hawaii page has all the information you will need. I was just thinking about Hawaii this morning (when I woke up to overcast and wind - we are in England).
I live on Oahu and also don't eat "normally" as I shop mostly at health food stores. I do buy some food at regular grocery stores though and am aware of most of the prices. Whenever I go to the mainland, I am amazed at how cheap everything seems to be so yes, the prices here are pretty high. Also, Kauai is more expensive than Oahu.
I think the most expensive items here are milk, eggs (although large grocery stores often have sales), bread, and anything that is highly perishable. I don't eat red meat so I have no clue about meat prices. Chicken is pretty expensive though. Because I have lived here so long, I am not really aware of the difference between the cost of fish on the mainland and here but the fish is fresh! Also, I think the cost depends on supply and demand and so if it is a good month for the fishermen, than the prices will be a little better. As far as other seafood, I think most of it is frozen and not fresh. Not really aware of the prices as I don't buy it much.
You could bring spices with you but I would not bring flour and sugar as these items are not that expensive. I probably also would not bring mayo and mustard on the plane unless you really go through these items. There is usually a good sale on mayo somewhere and I don't think mustard is that expensive?? I will try to pay attention to the prices on these items the next time I am in a grocery store.
I agree with Pauline that going to the local farmers' markets would help with the costs a little but the prices may be a little higher than normal this year due to all the rain we had. Interesting about the spinach! Here is a website I found that may be helpful on where to find the farmers' markets.
Gas prices today in Lihue are about $3.60 a gallon.
I have a couple of friends at work that are originally from Kauai. I will ask them next week to see if they have any better advice.
Think of it this way, the cost of the food here cannot be any worse than the cost of the food in Italy right now with the horrible exchange rate! Sorry this is not a more positive post. I guess it is the price we pay for living in paradise.
I think Girasoli is right -- we pay for living in paradise. Just be thankful all you have to buy is food, not a house! Seriously, in addition to her list, the other thing that's notoriously expensive here in the islands is cereal -- people who go to the mainland often take an extra suitcase to fill up just with cereal on their return. The price of fresh fish varies wildly, from farmed salmon at $7/pound on sale to $10 for mahimahi to $14 for ahi (tuna) if supplies are tight. I think your best shopping bets, at least for staples and meat and fish, are the supermarkets in Lihue, where you can be on the lookout for specials on your shopping run. Too bad there's no Costco on Kauai.
Aloha, Ann
Posts: 1503 | Location: Sunset Beach (Haleiwa), Hawaii, USA | Registered: 16 September 2001
this all such great, albeit depressing, info! thanks everyone!
truth be told, our group won't be eating a whole lot of red meat... or meat in general really. a few vegetarians, and almost all super-crunchy eaters. fish and other seafoods will be on the daily menu for sure! the health food stores are more like what we shop at regularly (whole foods and the local co-op) i'm sure.
i'm liking the idea of taking our own "must have" items. the energy bars, spices, seeds to sprout there, wine, liquor, etc. my husband and i are only taking a carry-on each, but could check a box of food stuffs - no problem.
$3.60 a gallon? $2.79 here last i looked... and i try not to look.
any more info on the best/cheapest way to eat in on kauai is welcome. keep the suggestions comin'! thanks again y'all!
Lately it occurs to me what a long, strange trip its been
We spent 2 wks in Kauai last year. Everyone told us how expensive the groceries were - - so I was pleasantly surprised when I arrived - - they weren't as high as I thought they'd be!
We did carry our own spices w/us.
There are great farmers markets - at different days of the week.
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$2.79 here last i looked... and i try not to look.
