Useful Travel Information
Budget Travel
Most budget travelers really don’t need much advice on how to get to Hawaii (buy the cheapest airfare on the Net) or how to get around (there are shuttles but no buses, so rent the best car deal on the Net). Staying in the Kihei-Wailea area? Rent a studio apartment that sleeps two for $50/night or less and bicycles for a week, which can drive the daily bike rental rate down by half, and don’t rent a car and pay high gas prices. That will save you a net of about $30 a day for the bike and about that much for lodgings. For about $60 a day you can eat very well in around the island by following suggestions in Taste of the Islands – Maui.
That said, what budget travelers and others really need, in addition to inexpensive vacation rentals, is mundane information about where to shop and do your laundry in the event that your vacation rental has cooking facilities or doesn’t provide a washer and dryer. In addition, most budget and other vacationers these days need to check and send email, preferably at a reasonable price per minute. Here are some tips for saving money and time shopping, doing laundry and email.
Buying Food and Non-food Products
- Every local knows where Costco Wholesale is located (540 Haleakala Highway, Kahului). Unless you have a business or executive membership, regular hours are Mon.-Fri., 11am. - 8:30pm., Sat., 9:30am.-6pm., and Sun., 10am.-6pm. (877-5241).
- Foodland, Safeway, and Star supermarkets have competitive prices but some of these markets are better than others. Sign up for a free savings card at Foodland and Safeway and then watch for sales. Star Market doesn't require a savings card for you to get sale prices.
- Kahului's Safeway is cheaper than the Lahaina store, but obviously it’s a long drive from West Maui to Kahului just to shop. Shop in Kahului in conjunction with a trip to the North Shore which, as you know by now, is a must visit anyhow, and visit both Costco and Safeway. The best store overall for selection and price is the Kihei Safeway (277 Pi'ikea, 891-9120). If you’re staying in West Maui, shop at the Kihei Safeway on your way back from a day in Wailea or Makena. Other Safeway stores open 7 x 24 are located at 170 E. Kamehameha in Kahului (877-3377) and 1221 Honoapi`ilani Highway in Lahaina (667-4392).
- Foodland is open 7 x 24 in the Kihei Town Center (879-9350) and Upcountry in the Pukalani Terrace Shopping Center (572-0674), and open 5 a.m. to midnight at the Lahaina Square Shopping Center (661-0975) and Queen Ka'ahumanu Center.
Genuine budget travelers, determined to pay only rock bottom prices or make bulk purchases of natural foods, spices and such have a couple of places to shop that are much cheaper and more fun and adventuresome than supermarkets:
- Ohana Farmers & Crafters Market, Kahului Shopping Center, Wednesday 7:30am.-1pm.; Friday 9:30am - 5pm in the Queen Ka'ahumanu Center
- VIP Foodservice, a wholesaler in a warehouse at 90 Amala Place in the Kahului Industrial area, Mon.-Fri., 8am.-6:30pm., Sat., 8am.- 4:30pm. (877-5055)
- Maui Farmers' Cooperative Exchange (produce only), 970B Lower Main St., Wailuku, Mon.-Fri., 7am - 3:30 p.m
- Down to Earth (vegetarian) in Kahului (305 Dairy Rd, 877-2661), Lahaina (193 Lahainaluna Rd., 667-2855), and Makawao (1169 Makawao Ave., 572-1488)
- Hawaiian Moons in Kihei (2411 S. Kihei Rd., 875-4356)
- Mana Foods in Pa'ia (49 Baldwin Ave., 579-8078)