Live Your Best Lives
  1. Travel FAQs
  2. United States
  3. Hawaii (HI)

Costco

This may have been asked before (apologies if it has, I did do a search but couldn't see any recent answers).

I've seen a lot of articles/posts saying go to Costco and stock up on essentials. I've never been to Costco can I still shop there if I'm not a member?

Costco is widely known for offering bulk groceries, household essentials, and even local specialties at very competitive prices. Many travelers to Hawaii recommend stocking up on items such as snacks, drinks, sunscreen, toiletries, and even picnic supplies before heading to beaches or vacation rentals.

Regarding membership, Costco generally requires you to have a membership to enter the warehouse and make purchases. However, there are some exceptions and workarounds that visitors often use:

  • Shop with a member: If you know someone who has a Costco membership, you can shop with them and use their membership card to make purchases.
  • Use Costco Cash Cards (Gift Cards): Non-members can sometimes use a Costco Cash Card to shop, but you would need to purchase the card from a member first.
  • Pharmacy or Optical Departments: In some states, Costco allows non-members to use the pharmacy or optical services, although Hawaii’s rules may vary, so it’s worth checking in advance.
  • Online shopping: Costco’s website allows some shopping for non-members, although prices may be slightly higher and not all items are available.

It’s worth noting that while Costco is extremely convenient for bulk shopping, if you only need small quantities, local grocery stores like Safeway, Foodland, or Times Supermarket in Hawaii may be easier to navigate and do not require a membership.

  • Safeway: Multiple locations across the islands, standard grocery items.
  • Foodland: Local Hawaiian grocery chain with produce, poke, and prepared foods.
  • Times Supermarket: Popular for fresh island produce and everyday essentials.

In summary, if you’re not a member, you have options like shopping with a member, using Costco Cash Cards, or visiting local grocery stores instead. For travelers planning to stay in vacation rentals, buying in bulk at Costco can save money, but you’ll need to plan around the membership requirements.

More Hawaii (HI) Travel Questions

The attractions mentioned in this question

beach
Many
Hawaii

Popular Destinations

Bronze statue of Chen Yingshi
Xuzhou Fengminghai Scenic Area
Xiaoshan West Mountain Park
Shaoxing Old Street

Popular Travel Questions