Hawaii Costco stores are as popular with visitors as they are for those of us who live here. We’re told by management that one-third of all Costco Hawaii sales are to visitors.
So here’s a list of things we both highly recommend you look for and some flops you may want to avoid on your Hawaii vacation.
Here’s something surprising you won’t find at Costco: Ukuleles. Costco Hawaii stores have sold those occasionally but no longer have them in stock.
1. Flower Lei.
Not called leis, the same word is singular and plural in Hawaiian. In any event, Costco regularly stocks lei with starting prices as low as $5 each (actually, two for $9.99). They also sell more interesting lei for prices starting at about $15 and up.
BOH: If you’re at Costco, it’s a great place to pick them up, If you’re looking for something more exotic, however, this isn’t the best choice.
Here’s a tip on how to present a lei to someone. Drape it over their shoulders instead of their neck. A lei is a way to honor the recipient on their birthday, anniversary, or another personal milestone. It can be given or worn at any time and for any reason, and has become a symbol of Hawaii.
2. Surfboards and bodyboards.
There’s no better place to get in the water than here for surfing and bodyboarding aficionados. With year-round places in the islands, pick up a board in Hawaii, then take it home with you when you leave. Some Costco employees say visitors want to return their boards to Costco before leaving the islands. Costco has no “board loan” program, so if it’s been used, you’re out of luck. Read below if your airline will charge you to send it home.
On a recent visit, we noticed Costco selling great one and two-packs of decent bodyboards. Those pictured above were just $45. There were also surfboards in stock. The 8-foot foam ones below were just $120. They also sometimes sell paddle boards.
BOH: The bodyboards are a great value. We saw the same ones at Walmart for $35 more.
By the way, here’s how that works to get your boards home from Hawaii:
On American Airlines, surfboards are charged at the regular checked bag fee. No surcharge. The same is true at Alaska Airlines, which considers a surfboard as luggage. Southwest Airlines has a great deal in that surfboards under 50 pounds fly as one of your two free checked bags. For heavier boards, that will set you back $75.
On the other hand, Delta Airlines has a fee of $150 for surfboards, so if you’re traveling with them, this may not be the best plan. Hawaiian Airlines charges $100 for a surfboard to be checked. Lastly, United Airlines considers surfboards as normal checked bags to California, from what we’ve learned. If, on the other hand, you’re traveling beyond California, expect to pay no less than $150 for your board to travel with you.
BOH: Bodyboards at Costco is a good value. It’s best if you fly Alaska, American, or Southwest when traveling with a surfboard.
2. Candies, nuts, and chocolate-covered mac nuts.
These popular candies and a plethora of others are available at Hawaii Costco stores. They come in bulk cases for gifting and in bags for eating, with some individually wrapped. Mac nuts in 6-packs are also for sale. Many think that macadamia nuts originated in Hawaii, but they are actually indigenous to Australia. They were introduced to Hawaii in the early 1880s and are primarily grown on the Big Island.
BOH: typically great prices compared to grocery and specialty stores, Walmart, Target, or Longs.
3. Fresh local sushi and Hawaiian poke.
Popular with both visitors and locals, Hawaiian poke is sold in various forms at Costco. Not only that, but Hawaii Costco stores also prepare local sushi (from $9.49) in each store. Reasonably priced and high quality.
BOH: A great lunch or dinner takeout while at Costco. Poke is a traditional Hawaii dish of diced raw fish. This Lomi salmon was $12.99. This is now a global phenomenon. We even saw Poke stores in London last month.
4. Local Hawaii Pineapples.
You might be able to find more interesting pineapples in Hawaii at the farmers market, but for year-round availability and under $4 pricing, it can’t be beaten. The pineapple from Costco is locally grown on Maui. Pineapple can also clear agriculture at the airport, provided it’s in good condition with no soft spots.
5. Hawaiian-style car seat covers.
Again popular with residents and visitors, these can slip on your car rental seats before making their way home. Reasonably priced and relatively long-lasting, in beautiful Hawaii-themed motifs, starting at about $20 for a 2-pack.
6. Hawaii Beer, wine, and spirits.
Many selections, including these cases of Hawaii-style beer for $31 (24 cans) and organic Maui vodka.
7. Sunglasses.
8. Many local products from Hawaii.
Local Products: Hawaii Costco stores specialize in many local products. Those range from mac nuts, coffee, chips, and snacks, to cookies, bread, honey, and more. Also, check-out Hurricane Popcorn for $15.49.
9. Local seafood.
From Kauai Shrimp to Hawaii caught ahi ($16.99 a pound), ono, swordfish, and others, depending on the season. Perfect for your vacation rental BBQ.
9. Everything for the beach.
From Hawaiian design towels ($11.00) to reef-friendly sunscreens, snorkeling gear, swim goggles (3 for $16), bathing suits, and more.
10. Hawaii souvenirs of all kinds.
Whether for yourself or others, consider Hawaii t-shirts ($19.99) and other apparel, hats, and more that will keep your trip memorable for years after you get home.
What Costco Items Should Hawaii Visitors Avoid
1. Milk products.
Unless you need large quantities, you’re probably better off at Safeway stores or Target. That’s true for milk, cream, butter, etc. For the same price at Target, you can buy organic milk in 1/2 gallon quantities without buying three.
2. Produce.
Some of it is okay, but it can also rot quickly and is in large quantities. We can get frustrated with the shelf life of their produce, and we live here. But going back to the store to return it – no thanks.
3. Soft drinks and bottled water.
Again mostly in too large a quantity to be able to use on a vacation. Try Target, Safeway, or Walmart instead.
4. Anything else sold in too large a quantity.
They run the gamut of their products, and sometimes it’s even hard to use them up when you live here.
And a questionable one: Should you buy Costco gas?
It all depends. Previously we wrote, “Hawaii visitors don’t waste time buying at Costco.” That article piqued your attention, has been read 100k times, and has many interesting comments.
Today the difference in price was small compared with the neighboring gas station. But if you’re already at Costco and there isn’t a long line, why not. On the other hand, the potential savings in relation to a very long line probably doesn’t make sense when you’re on vacation.
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We are part time residents of Hawaii, living in Ocean View (OV) on Hawaii island.
Regarding gas prices, Costco is normally around $1/gallon less expensive than what we pay in OV. Even though the lines are long, we always fill up whenever in the neighborhood. Even over in Hilo, where the gas comes onto the island, it is usually more expensive than Costco.
Your comment on produce (lack of) shelf life is correct, but we must consider the Rat Lung disease on our island. We try to buy as much local as possible at farmers markets, but greens to eat fresh are always a concern. We have a friend who got the parasite, and it was a bad time for him.
For Hawaii beer, we recommend against Kona Brewing (which Costco sells a lot of), which is owned by PV Brewing Partners in Kansas City, MO. But there are good local breweries on many of the islands. My favorite is Ola, but Kamuela has a good one as well, but it is harder to get their beer.
I second the recommendation for buying towels, Aloha shirts, etc. I do not know how they can get the shirts for so cheap. However, Goodwill and their ilk often have the shirts for around $3. I have bought from both sources.
We buy the fresh local fish, take it home on ice, cut it into meal-size pieces, and freeze it. We can then thaw in the fridge and grill. Yum!
As a Hawaii resident, I’m very surprised you’re mentioning what a good deal boogie boards are at Costco. I thought they even stopped selling them since it was such a single use plastic for so many people. I don’t think many tourist bring them home, in my experience they get left behind.
Also, this seems like it could be a good platform to encourage island visitors to not buy plastic single use water bottles too.
Costco has been refunding on returned snorkel and masks etc. So that just raises the prices of everything else. Hope they stop those refunds.
For local Mac nuts and Mac nut candy you will get a better price and selection at Longs Drugs.
Meat is packaged in large amounts or multi packs at Costco.
I have to vehemently disagree with your recommendation against buying gas at Costco! My husband & I lived in Kona on the Big Island from 1998 to 2016. We always filled-up both our personal vehicles & our company’s work trucks at Costco, despite the lines. Why, because it was $0.75/gal cheaper than anywhere else on the island. That’s a savings worth waiting in line for! By the way, since moving back to the mainland, we’ve continued to vacation in Hawaii 2 months/year, & continue to fill-up only at Costco.
Speaking from the standpoint of a ‘visitor’ and considering our vacation time vs driving 40 min to Costco to fill up to save $10/$15 – we chose to fill up locally and spend the extra money. We didn’t drive a lot – no trips to Hilo, etc. So, for us, the time was more valuable than another trip to Costco. “If” I were living on the island Or doing a lot of driving – then we would definitely schedule fill ups at Costco.
Thanks for Hawaii Costco article. My brother-in-law lives on Maui and I’m going to ask him to get us the Hawaiian-style car seat covers if the Maui store stocks them.
Also, just signed up for your articles.
Hi Marta.
Thanks. We hope they have them in stock. They are a regular item there.
Aloha.
Maui Costco gas is the only place I can get 36 gallons in my trucks 35 gallon tank
I like buying gas early in the a.m. at Costco. No line and .20 less per gallon than the regular gas station. Big Island Costco gas was open at 4:30 a.m
I love going to Costco and Sam’s Club in Hawaii for souvenirs and local snack foods, but yes, I have also been suckered into those huge gas lines. I keep thinking it’ll be quick and convenient since it’s on the way to the airport/rental car return, but 80% of the time it is neither.
I agree with the article. Love the farmers markets island wide for local produce. Bought package of steaks since we are here for a month. Also like the clothing selections for the summer months. Oh yes the coffe also is a reasonable price. What you do not consume can pack the rest ho
E.
For coffee, be careful. Costco was selling 10% local coffee. I recommend you buy 100% Hawaii coffee directly from the coffee growers or from the Ka`u Coffee Mill (near Pahala on Hawaii island). We are lucky that our place is around 15 minutes from the second-place winner in the Hawaii Coffee Cupping Competition.
Aloha guys! We noticed very little difference in gas between Costco & local stations this trip. Not worth drive. Stopped at local grocery day one. Wrong Decision! 2 large jars peanut butter at Costco $10 vs 1 cup at local store,$10. Eggs nearly $1 Each at local store. On and on. We spent spent Well Over $100 at local store & got enough food for 2 days. We were staying 2 weeks. Big Mistake. We Hit Costco & then just gave away the extra food we knew we would not use to an elderly couple in the parking lot!! Still saved Lots of $$. You expect a bit higher price at local store – but hate being raped. Prices were criminal. Found a real lack of color in clothing at Costco. Who wants camo in Hawaii? So, Costco for food. Gas? – not worth drive.
Hi Colleen.
Good to hear from you! Yes, we here have those experiences too. So If we go to Safeway or Times and the mayo is $13 (real example), we just feel irked, and at the next opportunity head off to buy it at Target (a good food find in Hawaii), Walmart or Costco. It feels trickier when you’re on vacation and time is so precious, and the options are perhaps less obvious.
Aloha.
We have been there twice, both trips to Honolulu/Oahu, both trips we had a wonderful time. But the simple fact is Hawai’i is an expensive destination due to its isolation from the mainland. Things cost more no matter where you go.
One thing with Costco you need to keep in mind is the membership fee. Factoring that in the savings may not be as big as they lead you to believe.
We always pick up two Tommy Bahama beach chairs and an umbrella st Costco on arrival. This summer on Kauai they were on sale for $29 each. With rental prices around $15 per item per day for the same thing (and well used), it pays for itself in less than two days. The best part — at the end of our stay (since traveling with these beach items is impractical), we find a nice family checking in and ask if they’d like to use them during their stay, and only ask that they “pay it forward” on departure.
Also, local surf shops tend to carry much better sunblock products than Costco, and the local employees often use what they sell in the water and have good product suggestions. A few more dollars per tube but worth it.
The beer you pictured is not Hawaii-made beer. Kona Brewing does not (and never has) bottled in the state. All Kona beer in bottles is brewed on the mainland by the owner of the brand, the Belgian-owned outfit known as ABInbev.
Also, let’s openly question why anyone (resident or visitor) would buy plastic bottled water. The water on the islands is great, and…I’ve tested this, so know it to be true…fits great into a reusable bottle! There is no plastic recycling on the islands. A quick search tells me that 9% of plastic from Hawaii is actually ever recycled. I rather doubt the number is that high, as recycling is largely a farce. What % ends up in the ocean? Well, for every single-use bottle that’s Not purchased, it’s zero.
@Kapia G., good point about the brewer, although the article does say “Hawaii-style” beer. BOH even wrote about the local brewing aspect of Kona back in 2017 so their choice of “Hawaii-style” vs “Hawaiian” hints they know what you mentioned (https://beatofhawaii.com/kona-brewing-company-does-made-in-hawaii-matter-to-you/) about bottles coming from the mainland. That doesn’t change what you said so look for cans if you want local Kona is still good advice :-)!
Safeway is definitely the most expensive place to buy groceries on Kauai.
Both Target and Walmart are noticeably less expensive, although Walmart has a limited selection.
Actually, Foodland is by far the most expensive grocery store in Kauai.
Your better grocery shopping can be done at … I will never tell.
ChoiceMart is a good option as far as food selection and OK prices, if it is near where you stay. We buy there if we do not want to drive all the way to Costco. It’s still a 20-minute drive though. The problems of living a long way from anywhere…
Went to Maui Costco on the day we arrived to stock up on Hawaiian Sun drinks. Never saw the sushi. I can only get the flat of Hawaiian Sun in mainland Costcos during a Hawaiian roadshow. Then another visit on our last day to get Lei’s, Mac nut 6 packs, Girl Scout thin mint chocolate covered almonds, and gas for the rental car. Also needed an extra carry-on suitcase but ended up at Walmart because Costco didn’t have one.
We have bought gas at costco in both Kauai and the big Island and have never waited in line. Even in Oahu we often pulled right up to the pump. Were we just unusually lucky?
Hi Shawn.
In a word, yes.
Aloha.
Definitely buy Kauai Coffee. Even though it comes in a 24oz. bag, it is worth the effort to bring back to the Mainland. Any Hawaiian coffee, did I say peaberry, is worth the price, especially at Costco. You are spot on about the seafood. Often it is better than the roadside vendors catch. I love the bulgogi that is made at the Kona COSTCO. Great for the BBQ but makes a big mess. I finally got the grille pan they sell.
To be avoided:
“3. Soft drinks and bottled water.
Again mostly in too large a quantity to be able to use on a vacation. Try Target, Safeway, or Walmart instead.”
Hmm, sort of, but… no. It pains me to see people buying cases of bottled water anywhere in Hawaii. I wish Beat of Hawaii would do an article on plastic waste and lack of recycling in the islands. Spread some awareness about how little gets recycled on these islands out in the middle of the Pacific Ocean and why. Encourage everyone, visitors and residents, to use your own refillable water bottle.
Thank you for your consideration.
I agree, we are trying to reduce our use of plastics especially single use and bring our own water bottle to fill. Anything we can do to help
We shouldn’t be buying cases of bottled water anywhere. In 2021 the US recycled about 5% our plastic.
We hear about that big huge plastic island way out in the middle of the ocean. No one seems to know how it got there. Well, I’ve got a sneaky suspicion that is where the ‘recycled’ plastic does. :0/
Previous notices of “we receive a small commission” never bothered me until I read this article. Since you can’t even enter the store without having a membership (I tried it for 1 year several years ago), anyone recommending Costco is already “in the circle”. Funny how the comparison is only with Target & Safeway (Safeway in Lahaina is the most expensive store on the island!) I buy 90% organic food & other items at Whole Foods and when I consider the extra 10% off you get on sales items by being an Amazon member (optional, of course), I actually pay less than at Costco. I don’t like to waste food and I don’t want to get fat! Staying healthy is cheaper!
Never again will we shop ‘local’ instead of Costco on the Big Island. I’d rather share/give away the food we won’t use than spend $10 for 1 cup of jelly or peanut butter at the local store. The egg prices are criminal.
“Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me” is a proverb that means if someone takes advantage of me twice, I only have myself to blame. We thought we would buy a few things ‘local’ – sorry, $8 for a locally grown pineapple is a bit much. Same pineapple at Costco is $2.99.
We tried but cannot justify shopping local in Hawaii (unless it is a beautiful handmade item. Buy at Costco and give away what you won’t use like we did. We still saved a bundle. (not the same savings on gas, unfortunately.)
Thanks for great information as always.
You forgot to mention in things to buy at Costco, the delicious Maui Chips (potato chips) not found on mainland.
Thanks, Vicki G
Hi Vicky.
Yes thanks for that. Many other items too.
Aloha.
Your comments are spot on. Last time we visited Kauai the Costco seafood looked fresher than the fish market. I always buy the Koloa rum and bags of limes for Mai tais. The one thing I don’t agree with is buying bottled water at all. Everyone should just bring an insulated container and drink ice tap water. The world needs to give up the amount of plastic we dump in our oceans.
Hit Costco in Kailua/Kona while on the big island, had to restrain myself from buying too many Aloha shirts. They were good quality and very nicely priced.
Didn’t see Poke or I would have had it instead of whatever I got at the snack stand out front.
Strange… Kona Costco has poke in the cooler next to the rotisserie chicken. The bulgogi is there too. Sometimes they put in the cooler opposite the cheese.