Comments on: Prices in Paradise

By: Jenn

Jenn — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 18:17:17 +0000

Wow. I live in Boston and I complain when milk is over $3. And I never pay more than $2-3 for peanut butter!

By: Laura

Laura — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 21:01:42 +0000

Hawaii needs an exemption to the Jones Act to help save each family $5,000 or more per year.

By: Jure

Jure — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 16:25:00 +0000

Guys, you seemed to be shocked :) Well we are paying this kind of prices in Europe for years and now the inflation…. So be happy to pay only 4 USD/g for gas. Its still cheap compared to Europe. Hm, I just might move to Hawaii, housing is cheaper than here….

By: NEENZ

NEENZ — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 02:23:37 +0000

I moved back home from Texas, a state that doesn’t tax food, milk was on sale for less than $3, a generic brand loaf of bread could be bought for $.99, and produce could be bought by the 10 for $1 rather than 1lb for almost $10!

But, everyday I am grateful that all of the gods got together and granted Hawai’i my home. :)

Tourism may be tapering off, but I hear there’s a future in the tech industry for Hawai’i.

By: conchscooter

conchscooter — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 16:37:22 +0000

All of which helps one to appreciate the modest, peninsula Florida Keys.

By: Bill A.

Bill A. — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 19:37:15 +0000

I visited about 2 years ago and prices were high then. Staycations are on the horizon for many families because of the high prices of everything.

By: krisp212

krisp212 — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 04:13:27 +0000

Wow! I guess I have it made here in Roanoke, VA. A gallon of milk is easily found here for $4, a loaf of bread averages around $2.50, and a jar of peanut butter also hovers around $2.50. Gas has been holding steady around $3.95 per gallon. We’re far, far away from the ocean, but the mountains here are lovely. I’m still visiting HI this fall though…can’t stay away even though everything’s so high.

By: Jed

Jed — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 01:33:09 +0000

It’s expensive and unreasonable to declare otherwise. Still what are you getting for your money?

For local milk, and other locally produced groceries it’s the high cost the manufacturers pay and those costs are passed on. For those goods produced on the mainland or elsewhere in the world it’s the cost of shipping. No doubt.

But I’ve heard about how high the prices are in HI every time I talk to an HI resident. For a Californian who doesn’t have to bear as many costs of shipping your costs don’t shock me and in some cases, you do well. Much of your gas is refined within 20 miles of where I live; you pay $ 4.50 and I pay 4.61. (http://www.hawaiigasprices.com/retail_price_chart.aspx)

I went house shopping (pretty much on a lark) last time I was there and a house I looked at was $1.3M!! OTOH, this house on the shore side of the highway near Hawaii Kai had a view of Diamond Head and was an easy 10 minute walk to the beach. And… a house of a similar price here would be of a similar size, but with no view, no beach and no easy 1 hour drive to 1,000 beaches. (Okay a thousand is an exaggeration but it should be acknowledged, there are a LOT.)

So in the end I’m not saying it’s not expensive. No far from it, but I’ll close with the story of a conversation with a friend who cautioned me when I moved to California that it was a lot more expensive that where we came from (Let’s say Duluth). Yes I said, but if my house in Duluth could somehow be no more than an hour from the ocean beaches, several major cities and Napa wine country and no more than 2 or 3 hours from 3 racetracks (I love racing) and Yosemite. And if *somehow* my house in Duluth had sunshine and warmth 10 months of the year and I *never* had to shovel the drive or put up with salt on the car, and my shoes, and my pants… It would be a lot more expensive too.

By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 00:11:47 +0000

Was on the Big Island in March in gas over $4 a galllon, but milk at $8? OMG dude. Be cheaper buying a cow.

By: Phil R

Phil R — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 22:39:51 +0000

While things are super pricey, I will be enjoying the islands all I can for my honeymoon in August.

Hate to say it, but after this trip it might be my last there! Too many other places in the world to see…