Aulani: What's the One Thing You Wish You Knew?

[SingingMom]

hi:
We are planning a trip to Aulani on Feb 21-27. I was wondering is their any shuttles to Pearl Harbor , or do you have to rent a car?

We booked an excursion to Pearl Harbor at Aulani and it included transportation round trip.

 

[nkereina]

Safeway vs Walmart vs Target - which of these three would you choose for a grocery run? We're just two adults and will be looking for breakfast items, baked goods, lunch meat, beer, laundry stuff, and toiletries. Costco is out for us as we are not members and there isn't one in our town. Thanks!

 

[carissa1970]

Safeway vs Walmart vs Target - which of these three would you choose for a grocery run? We're just two adults and will be looking for breakfast items, baked goods, lunch meat, beer, laundry stuff, and toiletries. Costco is out for us as we are not members and there isn't one in our town. Thanks!

Target. Safeway is super expensive, but we found Target to be about the same as our lcal Target, plus we use the Red Card debit card and save 5%. For full disclosure, I am anti-Walmart, so I truly do not know how they compare price wise, but I would assume they are cheaper than the Safeway.

 

[DenLo]

We usually shop at the Target in Kapolei, but the selection is limited. The grocery area is not going to have a variety similar to a grocery store. It is similar to your local Target, but items will be missing or will be replaced with products preferred by the locals. If you are willing to try new things or flavors you will enjoy the differences.

 

[dmetcalfrn]

We shopped at Target and Safeway and found Target had much better prices.

 

[blondietink]

We shopped at Target near Aulani and found we could not find a lot of things we wanted. wished we had been able to find the Safeway. We shopped at Safeway in Maui and found everything we wanted there. On Oahu we did find a Wal-Mart on the way back from the North Shore and got some additional items there that Target did not have. Where exactly is the Safeway near Aulani?

 

[carissa1970]

We shopped at Target near Aulani and found we could not find a lot of things we wanted. wished we had been able to find the Safeway. We shopped at Safeway in Maui and found everything we wanted there. On Oahu we did find a Wal-Mart on the way back from the North Shore and got some additional items there that Target did not have. Where exactly is the Safeway near Aulani?

Same exit as the Target, but the other direction (turn left after the bridge and go past the Costco).

 

[blondietink]

Same exit as the Target, but the other direction (turn left after the bridge and go past the Costco).

Thank you!

 

[77catwoman]

Following. We will be there for Thanksgiving this year.

 

[Sir William]

Safeway vs Walmart vs Target - which of these three would you choose for a grocery run? We're just two adults and will be looking for breakfast items, baked goods, lunch meat, beer, laundry stuff, and toiletries. Costco is out for us as we are not members and there isn't one in our town. Thanks!

We fixed our own breakfasts and most dinners over our 14 day stay this summer. DW is GF so we find it easier to cook our own meals than dine out, though Aulani is wonderful about preparing her delicious meals. For breakfast we had eggs, bacon, fruit, juice, tea, bagels, and hot/cold cereal. For dinner I cooked just about anything we would have eaten at home: spaghetti, chicken parmesan, grilled fish (several times), grilled chicken and steak, and other dishes we like. Lunches were a mix. I ate out most days as I was out exploring. DW and DD usually ate at Aulani, either in our room or sometimes at Off the Hook.

Can't really do a comparison of the stores as I'm retired military so we shopped at the Pearl Harbor commissary. We did stop in Costco because I wanted to see what they carried and we picked up a few small items from Safeway that we'd forgotten at the commissary. I thought the Safeway prices were only slightly more to what we pay in the Northern Virginia/DC area.

 

[eeyorefanuk]

Hi

Has anyone got a photo of a recent aulani mug??


I drink alot of water so can I just buy it for hubby only

Thanks

 

[aheape1979]

If you have a Costco membership, go there! We bought macadamia nuts (8 bags total) and shipped home in a pre-paid box. 4 cups in a bag were cheaper than 1 cup here at home. Vacuum sealed those babies and they are in the freezer. I wish I would've bought more! Banana macadamia nut bread takes me back every time!
Also, Hawaiian Host choc. mac nuts are MUCH cheaper at Costco! We bought 12 boxes for the price of 6 or 8 at the island market.
One more thing....if you are getting fresh floral leis, buy them at Costco! We bought them for our daughters on the way to the airport for our overnight flight back to the East coast, and they were perfect when we arrived home! Plus, they are cheap!

 

[Jump4Joy8390]

Hope this is not too late, but if you meant the refillable mugs, we are here now, and this is what they look like. The middle one, which we got in blue, also comes in green.

 

[jessicaanne86]

I have been told that it is worth renting a car as cab fares add up very quickly and there is so much to do on the island.

 

[rochmom4]

Does anyone know if the coffee pots in the villas use basket filters or cone filters? We are hoping to bring some supplies from home for our trip.

 

[blondietink]

I have been told that it is worth renting a car as cab fares add up very quickly and there is so much to do on the island.

Yes, there is so much to do on Oahu that renting a car is an excellent idea. Pearl Harbor, Honolulu, North Shore, etc. are all worth seeing. If you are staying on DVC points, parking is free at Aulani. Otherwise there is a charge. Good rates are found at discounthawaiicarrental.com. I am told Costco has good rates also, but we are not members as there aren't any Costco's around here.

 

[wanderlust7]

Does anyone know if the coffee pots in the villas use basket filters or cone filters? We are hoping to bring some supplies from home for our trip.

They use the basket type.

 

[Bastion72]

Finally going back to Hawaii after 11 years away. I was stationed there 7 years and worked at the Coast Guard base right up the road from Aulani. We're heading there on the 6th of sept. for a week. I just found out about the grills and am pretty excited to grill some fresh fish. Are there shuttles available to get to the shopping center in Kapolei? The movie theater? Etc. Thanks for all the tips.

 

[Mtkgal]

I can't remember if this was already mentioned or not, but if shopping at Target, they do not supply bags. You either need to bring your own or buy the reusable ones there.

The cheapest Macadamia nuts ended up being from a vendor at the swap meet. I wish I had known what a good deal they were, I would have purchased more there. They even had the flavored ones. The caramel glazed ones are awesome!

Actually everything at the swap meet was a great deal. Saw many of the same exact items throughout the island for twice as much as the vendors at the swap offered.

 

[Bastion72]

BTW The swap meet is at Aloha Stadium. Thanks for reminding me.

http://www.alohastadiumswapmeet.net/