Aulani - stopping at grocery question

[cropper]

How expensive are things at the stores like Target, Walmart, etc on Oahu??
Would love to hear from someone who has shopped there.

Wondering if we should wait and buy things like sunscreen, goggles, snorkel, etc once we get there. We will be renting a car.

I know we will be in a emtional rush to get to the hotel so I am not sure if that is a good idea.

 

[snackyx]

We just returned from an Aulani stay over New Years...prices at grocery stores are slightly higher than mainland, but nothing significant. As long as you have a car you can go into Barber's Point (about 2 miles from the resort) and shop at Target, K-Mart or Safeway, the latter being the best for groceries (be sure to get a Safeway discount card if you don't have one--can sign up and get it right at the store--prices are substancially lower on some items with the card).

 

[limace]

We always do Costco in Hawaii-the best prices around, and sunscreen is always cheap there.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

We just returned from an Aulani stay over New Years...prices at grocery stores are slightly higher than mainland, but nothing significant. As long as you have a car you can go into Barber's Point (about 2 miles from the resort) and shop at Target, K-Mart or Safeway, the latter being the best for groceries (be sure to get a Safeway discount card if you don't have one--can sign up and get it right at the store--prices are substancially lower on some items with the card).

The city where the Target, Kmart, Safeway, and Costco are located is Kapolei (not "Barber's Point").

I don't like the Safeway in Kapolei for a number of reasons. The Kmart is nicer than the typical Kmart. The Target is a very nice store, with a decent grocery section, even though it's not a Super Target. The Costco is great, with prices that don't seem bad at all; only heavy, perishable items such as milk have noticeably "Hawaiian" prices.

There's a well-stocked convenience store in walking distance from Aulani. It's the ABC Country Markets store. Although most prices are higher than in Kapolei, the convenience is wonderful. Time is valuable on vacation.

 

[CrazyDuck]

Not much more expensive... Just buy once you get here!

Kapolei is great to get everything you need for your trip to Aulani.

Kapolei is home to a slew of new stores that have opened in the past couple of years:
Target - Some groceries, beach gear, souveniers, sunscreen, pharmacy
Costco - Groceries for your large group, also has a pharmacy and gas station
K-Mart - Same stuff as Target
Down to Earth - Organic foods, kinda like a Whole Foods.
Safeway - Standard grocery store, older part of Kapolei where there is a lot of traffic
Longs - Actually a CVS drug store. Near Safeway so same busy parking lot
Walmart - Not yet... Under construction set to open early 2012 near older part of Kapolei

 

[cropper]

Thank you everyone for the info!
I think we may just wait and buy there.

I can't wait for our trip!!