Flights from my hometown arrive at lunch time, which is a few hours before most condos allow you to check in. By the time we get our luggage and car, we usually still have about two hours to kill. I know you are anxious to see the beach, but while in Kahului, it’s a good idea to run any errands you need to do.

Did you carry on and need to get sunscreen and hair products? Try Walmart or Target. Have a big group or a long trip and want to buy food and drinks in bulk? Costco is right across the street from the airport (membership required). Costco also carries beach items year-round like Tommy Bahama backpack beach chairs, coolers, beach towels, sunscreen, etc. They sometimes even have snorkel sets.

SECRET: If you are staying at a condo and aren’t sure what they provide, you might want to wait to buy beach items. (Pssst…ask before booking!) Anthurium House offers all your beach essentials, minus the sunscreen!

There are three Safeway grocery stores on the island.

Since we are a family of four, we usually skip Costco most trips and just get everything we need at Safeway (locations in Kahului, Lahaina and Kihei; open 24 hours). There are also Foodland and Times supermarkets on the island, but we shop at Safeway at home so we are used to it’s layout and products. If you shop at Vons, Randalls, Tom Thumb or Carrs, you will also feel at home.

SECRET: When making your shopping list, choose meals that don’t require a lot of different condiments as they are expensive and often tossed barely touched at the end of a trip.

To save money when we stay in a condo, we usually plan to eat most breakfasts at “home” and pack lunches for the beach. We typically only cook dinner in once or twice a trip, and it’s usually something on the BBQ. Pasta is also an inexpensive option. I love the ahi poke in the seafood department at Safeway; ask for samples! About 1/4 a pound makes a perfect beach appetizer for one person (add mango, avocado and wontons and you will be in heaven). Bread is usually expensive compared to the mainland, so take your time there. Hawaiian Sweet Rolls are my favorite and don’t dry out at the beach as fast as normal deli rolls. Also, Pringles in a can are perfect beach chips since they are protected from getting smashed and wet hands don’t have to go into a bag.

When in Hawaii, drink Hawaiian beer!

Don’t forget your favorite adult beverage. I am always pleasantly surprised with the wine prices and usually pick up a bottle of Sauvignon Blank and a 6 pack of Big Wave Pale Ale (Longboard Island Lager is also popular). I can’t go through an entire bottle of rum in a trip, so I usually fill a water bottle up with it at home and put it in my checked luggage. Malibu rum is a good one for people who aren’t big drinkers but like fruity drinks.

Most condos have salt and pepper and that’s about it. Maybe spray oil if you are lucky. Don’t forget to buy butter for toast and to grease your pan if you are making eggs or pancakes. It’s also a good idea to bring ziplock bags from home or buy a box there. Tupperware is also helpful for packing fruit.

Taste test is in and POG is the winner!

SECRET: Don’t forget to pick up a pack (or 2 or 3) of POG (Passion, Orange, Guava). There are different brands and flavor varieties. I don’t care which brand, but we did a taste test last time and POG was the unanimous flavor winner! If you don’t like your drink as sweet, consider Aloha Maid’s Passion Orange. (Add some rum and you have yourself a Haole Mai Tai!)

Banana Mac pancakes at Gazebo in Napili

While I recommend grocery shopping the first day if you have time and energy just to get it out of the way (and so you have snacks and breakfast for early risers), you most likely will have plenty of time the next morning with the time change. If you wait, consider these favorite breakfast spots for your first morning and then proceed to the store after. Chances are you’ll still be at the beach by mid morning!