Hawaii grocery shopping is an experience that can be unique but also wallet-busting. While the cost of groceries will be higher due to shipping expenses across the ocean, shopping like a local in Hawaii can provide some savings and a unique taste of Hawaii’s diverse food culture. Here’s how to shop smart and eat like a local while exploring the islands.
Understand the unique Hawaii grocery landscape.
Hawaii’s grocery options range from national chains, including the obvious Costco, Safeway, Target, and Walmart, to local favorite stores and markets, each offering a vastly different experience. The national stores provide familiar options while offering unique Hawaii twists. Costco, for example, is popular for bulk buying and carries a range of local and visitor favorites like macadamia nuts, Hawaiian snacks, fresh pineapples, and local seafood, including Kauai Shrimp.
Local chains like Foodland and Times offer a more traditional Hawaii shopping experience. With its extensive selection of poke, prepared foods, and locally sourced meat and seafood, Foodland does a good but expensive job of allowing visitors to explore local flavors. Meanwhile, Times is also known for its wide range of East and Southeast Asian ingredients, perfect for those wanting to explore Asian food during their stay.
Discover farmers’ markets and specialty stores.
Farmers’ markets are a must-visit for locally grown produce and unique Hawaiian specialties, both fresh and prepared. The KCC Farmers Market in Honolulu and many other markets across the islands are popular for their fresh tropical fruits, locally grown vegetables, and value-added products. These markets provide an opportunity to interact with local farmers, artisans, and residents, offering a much more personal and community-oriented shopping experience.
Specialty stores have popped up on the islands, like Foodland Farms and Island Country Markets, which are largely higher-end focused and cater well to visitors’ needs.
Embrace Hawaii in your choices.
Shopping like a local in Hawaii isn’t just about where and how you shop. Embrace the aloha spirit means opting for locally sourced and produced items. Choosing local produce, including an abundance of seasonal fruits and vegetables, including too many unique items to mention, from mangoes (pictured) to taro, Spam musubi to poke, and sweet potatoes to Hawaiian-grown coffees, this is a way to not only support the local economy here but also reduce the carbon footprint associated with importing food.
Smart shopping for visitors.
The day of the week matters a lot more in Hawaii. On the neighbor islands, in particular, fresh food arrives via Young Brothers (barge) only on specific days. People here on Kauai, for example, know that Tuesday isn’t a perfect day to shop because everything will be old, faded, and awaiting replenishment. That takes place overnight on Tuesdays, making Wednesday a good day to shop.
Use available loyalty programs: Many Hawaii grocery chains, like Safeway and Foodland, still offer loyalty programs that provide discounts and deals. Sign up for these programs to save money on groceries during your stay.
Store location can influence price: You’ll pay more if you go grocery shopping in resort areas. For example, expect to pay more in Wailea than nearby Kihei.
Don’t overshop: This is not easy at Costco, but try to have a good idea of your food needs so you have little to nothing left over at the end of your vacation.
Check for sales and discounts: Hawaii grocery stores often have weekly sales that start on Wednesdays and discounted items, including locally produced goods. Shopping then can lead to better quality and quantity of merchandise plus savings. You can check these online on store websites.
Plan ahead: Since groceries are more expensive in Hawaii. Plan your meals and shopping trips to avoid waste. Buying in bulk at places like Costco or shopping for fresh produce at farmers’ markets can help reduce costs.
Prepare to substitute: We often research alternatives rather than running to the store when we lack a product.
Look for discount racks. Items close to their expiration date or past their season can often be found in the back area of stores and may be heavily discounted. This seems to happen more here, perhaps in part due to shipping delays.
Make sure you get the deal. What often happens to us is that the price charged does not always match the advertised sales price. We have not had this happen at Costco or Safeway, but we have had this problem at other stores.
Experience local flavors beyond the grocery aisle.
Hawaii’s food culture is deeply rooted in its diverse population and rich natural resources. Beyond the grocery stores, consider visiting local bakeries, fish markets, and food trucks. Enjoy freshly baked malasadas (Portuguese doughnuts) from Leonard’s Bakery, or try a poke bowl from a local seafood market instead of the grocery store. These experiences offer a richer and deeper connection to Hawaii’s vibrant food culture.
Conclusion about groceries in Hawaii.
Shopping like a local in Hawaii is more than a mundane chore; it’s a definite adventure. By exploring local stores, engaging with farmers and artisans, and embracing the culinary heritage that makes up Hawaii, you are guaranteed to make shopping a fun part of your trip. So, grab a reusable shopping bag, smile, and shop like a local in Hawaii.
Please let us know how you shop like a local in Hawaii!
One other option is China town on Oahu. Lots of fresh local fruit and vegetables at reasonable prices.
I enjoy shopping at the market on Wednesday’s. It has all the fresh fruit and some fruit I never seen before,they offer you to try them before you buy and they’re so good. I changed my schedule at work so I could go to the market and get the fresh veggies and fruit.
We’ve heard locals say good things about the poke at Costco, that isn’t mentioned in this piece. Aldo, it’s good to check the dates of everything when in the supermarkets. We’ve found expired items being sold on numerous occasions.
Before choosing Walmart, consider the high price of low cost. Costco is far more corporately responsible. When deciding whether to buy in bulk at Costco, consider that there are many leftovers that can be packed home with you (e.g., nonperishables, food that can be frozen). Finally, perishable leftovers are welcomed by cleaning and other staff – just leave in the refrigerator or on the counter. In general the Costco price is 1/3 to 1/2 less (per unit price) than traditional grocery stores. It may make sense to pack in only as much as you will need of lightweight but bulky nonperishables, such as boxed cereal, and compact but heavier nonperishables. Bottom line: planning ahead pays off.
Remember, the chain grocery stores like Safeway, Foodland, and Times are, in aggregate, more expensive than shopping at Walmart. Love it or hate it, Walmart, Sam’s, and Costco stores have the lowest overall prices. The locals flock there to shop due to the lower prices.
Other stores to consider are the Japanese owned Marukai Market and the Don Quijote stores. In particular, the “Donqi”on Kaheka st in the Ala Moana area is only about a 5-10 min drive from Waikiki and it’s about as cheap as you’re going to get along with the added advantage of a huge takeout and hot cafeteria line section. Most supermarkets have good and cheap takeout sections.
The ABC stores everywhere in Waikiki are convenient but moonshot expensive. Avoid if you’re making larger purchases. If you want a really local shopping experience seek these places I’ve listed out.
Best Regards
All recommendations great but would like to add Longs Drugs to the list. Their ad comes out on Sundays and includes significant savings on targeted grocery items. I make a habit of checking all stores I’m interested in online before I leave the mainland to see what stores’ weekly flyers have the best deals and plan accordingly once I arrive.
Can’t believe I forgot Long’s! Also, being owned by CVS you can use the points there and in the CONUS at any CVS store. There’s a very large Long’s at the corner of Beachwalk and Kalakaua in Waiks whose prices beat ABC store anyday.
Good Call!
Awesome tips to avoid breaking the bank on groceries and food while visiting the islands. We will be sure to pack reusable grocery bags, and already have KCC FM on our list of must-visit experiences. Thank you, BOH!