Costco/Sams etc. in Oahu
 

I'll be in Oahu next week, and plan to stop by a warehouse club to pick up a few goods for while in Hawaii, stock up on mac nuts to take back to the mainland, etc. Notice that there are several Costco's and a Sams (have a membership at both, for now). Any advice as to whether any particular store (of the Costco's or Costco vs Sams) is preferable (better selection, less crowded, etc.), or days/times when I should avoid them (e.g. Saturdays). Thanks in advance for your expertise.

[This message has been edited by Mr. July (edited 05-16-2003).]

Haha, intersting question http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif

Sam's Club is pretty far out there... well not that far, but it's still a drive on the H-1 and driving on the H-1 can be irritating, I'd say as a lifelong kama'aina. It's in the Aiea/Pearl City area and can be a hassle. Costco (Iwilei) is right here in town (less than a mile from Downtown Honolulu and about five from Waikiki).

All three Costcos and the one Sam's Club can be busy, but all will have what you're looking for. Personally, I'd suggest Costco (Iwilei), because of its location. They have a wide variety of Mac Nuts, and it's the newest (don't know how that would help, but new can be good). Best times to go would be right after opening (10 on the weekdays) or right before closing (8:30 on weekdays).

Highly suggest you avoid Costco or Sam's Club on weekends. It's not too bad, but it can be pretty busy (i.e. there can be a lot of people there... but the parking lot is big enough so that you will still be able to find parking after maybe a short wait).

Enjoy your visit to the islands, and I hope this helps.

[This message has been edited by slippahs (edited 05-16-2003).]

Beg to differ, Slippahs. That d****d parking lot at Costco Iwilei appears to have been designed by the same idiots who laid out the street parking spaces in Honolulu. In other words, it's a nightmare. I'll never go back if I can help it.

Even though it's smaller and further away, I much prefer the Costco in Hawaii Kai. It's not quite as busy since they opened Iwilei, which makes it all the more pleasant (on a relative scale, or course). I've never been unable to find parking, even on a weekend.

Well, you are entitled to you opinion.

The Costco out in Hawai'i Kai can be a far drive, especially if you live in town or are staying in town. Kalanianaole Highway can be a drag, especially during rush hours... in fact, traffic all over the island has been increasingly become a nightmare... add on the rising cost of gas... and you've got paradise.

Mr July: Not the answer to your question, but you might check your own Costco on macadamia nuts (unless you're talking the chocolate-covered kind). I can get mac nuts at my Costco for the same price as in Hawaii. I do buy the big jugs of coconut syrup at Costco in Hawaii though. I can't find coconut syrup at home.

I would like to offer that the Hawai`i Kai Costco is probably the easiest location to find or give directions to a malihini, and pretty visable from the street. Plus, the visitor would now also know how to find Roy's and the way to Hanauma Bay http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif

The Iwilei Costco is kinda tucked off of Nimitz, yeah? Can't really see it from the highway...

As for Sam's, a long drive on Kamehameha Hwy past Pearlridge. I wouldn't even try to describe taking Komo Mai...

Of the three, I like the Hawai`i Kai Costco. But, we're from East Honolulu... http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif

The funny part is I always thought the drive from our house to Sam's or the old Costco Salt Lake was a long drive. Now that I live in Kaleponi, I drive 20 miles to the Sam's Club!

Hawaii Kai Costco has ample parking and is adjacent to a shopping center. Concerning traffic, all the heavy traffic is headed into town in the morning and the reverse in the afternoon. If you leave for Costco from town about 10:00 a.m., you will encounter very little traffic. Signal lights are pretty synchronized along Kalanianaole so it should be a breeze.

I agree with the other posters that the Hawaii Kai Costco is probably the easiest to find for a tourist coming from Waikiki. I've stocked up there a few times myself. AND, it is close to the original Roy's http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif

Mary

Thanks, everyone, for the quick and helpful advice. I'll probably end up stopping at Hawaii Kai Costco to/from Hanauma Bay (I guess from, since I was thinking about the choc. covered mac. nuts, letiole), but will keep Iwilei in mind as an option. If I end up there, I will be sure to re-post and weigh with my take on the parking lot design, chazas.

We stopped at the Costco at Iwilei last year while staying out in Ihilani. Being from Atlanta, it was just like any other Costco as far as crowds and parking were concerned. We found it useful for gassing up the rental car and picking up breakfast items for the family like cereal bars, juice, and snacks. Although not referenced in this thread, there's also one convenient to Kona.

There's one thing good about living in metro Atlanta, once you've experienced our traffic, there's no such thing as bad traffic anywhere else http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif

GeorgeBurdell -- You're so right. I just came back from 6 months in Boston, and surely, nothing will compare to the slow grinding traffic on the H-1 during rush hour... but everything is relative to where you are http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif so to me, the H-1 still is a bummer.

The Kona COSTCO seems to charge the same prices for many things as the Dunwoody Georgia one does... And I would be remis if I did not mention that Kona now has their own Home Depot (and soon to have a Lowes).

I would also be remiss if I did not direct your attention to the current traffic on the H1.. :-)

http://www.eng.hawaii.edu/hawaiidot/index.html

OK, bumping up this old thread to let everyone know the new WalMart/Sam's Club near Ala Moana Center is now open.

From Ala Moana Center, head mauka about two blocks up Ke`eamoku St. and you can't miss the massive complex on your left. WalMart is the bottom floor and Sam's Club is on the top (the entrance is the third floor of the attached parking garage). I stopped by the new Sam's Club to pick up some Macadamia Nuts, Hawaiian Host chocolate, and Kona Coffee before I left the other day. It was a very nice store. I was extremely impressed with the quality of their fresh fish counter, including a nice selection of different variations of poke and nice selections of fillets and whole fish, such as aku and opakapaka. Lots of other local foods to be had as well. There is also a small food center and an optical center.

My retired uncle, who has too much time on his hands, tells me he's priced out both the Iwilei Costco and the new Sam's and found that Sam's prices are a few cents cheaper for items that can be found at both stores.

how about k mart?
 

I have found the kmart near salvation army (nimitz, not too far from sam choy's I think) to be very easy to get in and out from. and they have awesome prices on postcards, snorkel and mask/fins sets, body boards/boogie boards/whatever they're called, bottled watter and all of life's other essentials. folding chairs too as has been mentioned elsewhere - much cheaper to buy at the beginning of your trip, and then discard on the beach rather than rent.