oh and safeway too
 

don't forget to bring along your safeway card if you have one.

and speaking of poke, anyone got a good recipe? can we buy everything we need in the lower 48 to make poke on our own? one of the first things I want to eat when hitting the islands is some lomi lomi salmon, and ahi poke... washed down with a nice can of oolong or green tea from ABC stores...

Yes, it's out of way but I liked it better than Iwilei one. Iwilei is was a zoo. Additionally, I think Hawai'i Kai had better selection of maki and sushi from different venders. ^ And I won't forget the peanut butter filled mochi! I guess only in Hawaii... :cool:

Regarding K-Mart off Nimitz, it didn't have much coffee selection unlike Kona WalMart. Next time, I'll try new WalMart rather than this K-Mart.

Aloha until my miles and points are recharged...

Nope, you can get the peanut butter mochi here in SoCal at the Marukai (Japanese Costco).

Veering OT, I found a great place in Hilo that makes mochi with a whole strawberry in the middle and a layer of azuki beans... I bet slippahs knows of what I speak... :D

http://starbulletin.com/98/09/02/features/story1.html

As far as poke - the only one ingredient that might be hard to find/substitute is the ogo which is an edible variety of seaweed. They do sell "do-it-yourself" poke kits at stores in Hawai`i.

http://www.spiced.com/SPICED/SKU/NOH/73500680.HTML

Long's Drug Store too
 

This month, Long's has had various 50th anniversary sales on all sorts of items. It does not look as though you can see their weekly specials online for Hawaii.

I got pretty good deals on Macnuts in clear ziplock bag [$6.99 for 12 oz], Christmas Ornaments, Calendars [.87 or so ea although Wal-Mart also has similar on sale], etc. The specific sale may be over before you get here, but I would check ABC stores, Wal-Mark, K-Mart, Longs, COSTCO and SAMS as your time permits.

There is nothing better than browsing stores in paradise on your vacation. At least you won't get sunburned... :)

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As an aside to GeorgeBurdell, "Been there, done that [traffic in Atlanta]". On my 1st day of retirement, I was in an 8-car pileup on the Perimeter near Perimeter Mall. I have to admit, that has not happened to me here on the Big Island yet! :)

Can't get fresh ogo in the Mainland, which I think is the key ingredient, but you can improvise with other seaweeds & I've tried dried ogo. Still, it isn't quite the same.

Can't wait for our Winter biannual trip back in a few weeks. Kim Chee tako poke every day..........

Mmmmm, mochi... I guess I have to plan for another visit soon... :D