Costco

Yup, I am going to write about COSTCO - that bastion of American capitalism and very large portions. Costco - the home of the very large, all beef hotdog and soda for $1.50. Costco - the home of the popular gas station where you have to wait in long lines and then have to decide whether to try to drive around someone and parallel park because the car at the middle pump has left and you are concerned that those in line behind you are getting impatient.

There was one Costco when we stayed in Kauai. There are two stores on Hawaii. The stores are always very busy and you have to drive around the parking lots following someone with a cart as they return to their car to find a place. Hawaii is not a place you go to for an inexpensive vacation. Everything including people are expensive to bring here. Housing is expensive and those in a profession such as teaching struggle just to be able to afford a place to stay. Educators in Hawaii make more than the average for teachers in the U.S., but costs are so high there is a chronic shortage of teachers on the islands.

Costco has done a lot to provide goods at a more reasonable price and to compete with other retail outlets in a way that has brought all costs down. The lines at the gas punps are so long because the cost of gas is 30 to 50 cents a gallon less expensive than the cost at other gas stations. Cindy said she was told 80% of adults on Kauai had a Costco membership mainly so they could purchase gas at this rate. We stay close enough to make the effort to drive a few extra miles to fill up because of this large price advantage.

Tourism makes up a large portion of island revenue and it is estimated that tourists spend an average of $200 a day during their visits. We feel very lucky for the opportunity to stay here for an extended visit.