LIVING IN MAUI

NickB · Joined: 30 Jun 2009 Posts: 510 Location: Alameda, CA

Oh and by the way Isobras, I though you should be aware you might get some sh*t in here. Your handle is suspiciously similar to the handle of a weird character (or a spambot with a very twisted AI?) that was hanging around this forum, publicly wishing stuff like "Just think ... just one more well-placed earthquake" and oh so many other angry nuggets!

So don't take it personally, just avoid narcissistic posts, and there won't be any confusion.

justingordon · Joined: 04 May 2002 Posts: 148

>> do groceries on Maui still cost twice what they do on the mainland?

Definitely not if you shop at Costco and Mana Foods, and amazon.com. Costco prices are virtually the same as the mainland. Mana has an excellent selection of organic and specialty items that is very comparable to that type of store on the mainland, and often less than Safeway on Maui (which I never shop at). And if you do go to Safeway only, you will definitely believe groceries cost twice as much here! And Whole Foods? Well, I'd say expensive both on the mainland and here.

That being said, I do miss Trader Joes and wish they would open up Maui!

Amazon prime is also amazing for Maui. The shipping is super fast and free for most items.

Some products are definitely way less on Maui:
$3 per pound Fresh whole Ahi from fishermen
$4-$5 per pound for fresh whole Mahi and Ono from fisherman.

We got a Costco vacuum sealer, so the frozen fish is AMAZING. If you love avocados, papayas, bananas, lilikoi, mangoes, and coconuts, you can grow them yourselves, or get them at Mana for a very low cost. Maui has an amazing selection of avocados!

Some fruits and produce that are not grown locally are definitely a lot more, unless you get it at Costco.

Another point of reference is going out to eat. We just went with the family to Haile Maile and my parents considered the food excellent and no more or less than a comparable meal in Santa Monica or Beverly Hills. And there's no way that you can get fresh Ahi, Ono, or Mahi on the mainland, so it's not even comparable.

I actually find food in Maui to be one of the best parts of living on Maui.

Best wishes and aloha,

Justin

keycocker · Joined: 10 Jul 2005 Posts: 3598

Ethnic food is good here.
We eat a lot of raw fish that isnt sushi or sashimi.

beaglebuddy · Joined: 10 Feb 2012 Posts: 1120

I really do miss the good Mexican food in California, I would eat in the places where nobody spoke English. My wife and I would get more than we could consume for under $10
Nothing like that on Kauai, similar food from a roach coach but each taco costs $4.50 compared to $1.25
If you are really concerned with high food prices here you can forage for fruit and go fishing, but you need a boat. Lot's of people barter for fish.

rich1 · Joined: 10 Apr 2000 Posts: 156

Justin,

Where do you get your fish straight from the fisherman? I used to see guys on the north shore past Hookipa offering fresh fish, but not for a few years.

The last good local fish I've managed to find was at Hanazawa's.

Cheers

isobras · Joined: 17 Jul 2012 Posts: 439

victor · Joined: 03 Aug 1998 Posts: 581

hmmm. lemme see. most of the year without seeing the sun vs. 12 months of spring.

i think i'd take the latter if i could afford it.

i'll settle for what i have, though.

jse · Joined: 17 Apr 1995 Posts: 1460 Location: Maui

tlucoff · Joined: 25 Jun 1996 Posts: 8

when i was younger and a malibu bad boy my father thought i could use some social adjustment and he sent me to new mexico to go to school. when i got of the bus in las cruses new mexico and stepped onto dirt streets and a town with hitching posts i asked the first person i saw where the city was and the guy spit some tobacco and kicked the ground with his boots and took off his hat and said "your here" i asked how far it was to the school and he said 3 hours but we would have to wait for the sandstorm to end. so have fun in new mexico. ill take maui