Stopping at Target on way to Aulani from airport?

mouseclick1 · Mar 28, 2017

We arrive on Saturday and I'm looking over my arrival day plans. We land at 2:45 pm. Do most of you that make a Target run do it on your way from the airport to Aulani, or after you check in and unpack? Or, do you wait until the next day?

OKW Lover · Mar 28, 2017

We try to do a big Target run on the day after we arrive. We find that after traveling all day (from FL), by the time we have got our bags, the rental car and gotten to Aulani we are pretty much done. So we just go over to the ABC store for the minimum to do breakfast the next morning and then grab a pizza at the shop nearby.

kdonnel · Mar 28, 2017

We usually get it out of the way the arrival day but not necessarily on the way. It is only 15 minutes back to the area.

mommy2allyandaveri · Mar 28, 2017

We got in around noon so we hit costco and target on the way to the hotel.

Euchre_U · Mar 28, 2017

There is a Safeway and a Super Walmart just up the road from the Costco also. If you are heading west to Aulani on the H1, both of these stores are two exits on the H1 prior to the Super Target / Costco exit.

We usually stop on the way to Aulani to get breakfast items and a few lunch items. As kdonnel noted, it's not that far back to Kapolei from Ko 'Olina, but you do have to go back out to get there. Walmart and Costco are the best (cheapest) places to shop for "Hawaii gifts" to take back home, if that's on your radars.

StaceyDarling! · Mar 29, 2017

When we went in November our plane landed around 1 or 1:30 pm (I can't remember exactly). After getting from the gate to our luggage, to our car rental, and on the road, it was about 3 or 3:30 I'd say. We had a little bit of a drive to the resort, but we definitely got slowed down by some traffic on the way to the resort from the airport, not sure why. We decided to go check in before we went to Target. Mostly because we had just traveled 17+ hours and we were kinda burnt out.

We got to the resort at about 4 or so, and after checking in and going up to the room to drop off our bags (we had a jeep which we took all the windows and roof off of so we couldn't leave our bags in the car anyways at Target without having to put all the windows back on.) We decided to just stay in and go to Target the next day. I don't regret doing that. We just ran to Target in Kapolei (very close) at the end of our day out in the jeep sight seeing.

Disneyx6 · Mar 29, 2017

We arrive in one week!! Yay!! I have heard from many friends that have gone in the past that they pack some food, such as snack items etc. Are the prices on the island that bad? We are in Waikiki for the first few days, do any of you know how long of a drive to the above mentioned stores from Waikiki? Thanks!

OKW Lover · Mar 29, 2017

Disneyx6 said:
Are the prices on the island that bad? We are in Waikiki for the first few days, do any of you know how long of a drive to the above mentioned stores from Waikiki? Thanks!

The prices in Hawaii are higher than what you are probably experiencing at home. Perhaps ~25% more? Can't really say. But they are higher.

If you are spending a few days in Waikiki first then the stores mentioned are pretty much on the way to Aulani.

nkereina · Mar 29, 2017

We stopped on our way there because we thought it would be easy to just "take care of business" and have everything we needed before arriving at the resort. Our plane landed around 12:30. By the time we got our bags and picked up our rental car, we got to Target around 2pm. We also got lunch at Kua Aina Burgers in the same plaza. We were at Aulani by 4pm which worked out well because our room was ready when we arrived, and the bellmen were able to move all of our luggage and groceries for us with one trip.

Soccerluvinmama · Mar 29, 2017

We hit Costco and Foodland on the way to Aulani. I just want to get the grocery shopping out of the way so I don't have a "to-do" for the next day. We used to do Target, but a few years ago decided Foodland (http://www.foodland.com/stores/foodland-kapolei) had more of what we needed at better prices. It's only 5 minutes from Costco too, so not out of the way.

OKW Lover · Mar 29, 2017

Just thought it might be worth mentioning in this thread that people should consider the fatigue factor when planning a grocery stop on arrival day. For those who live on the east coast, Hawaii is a 6 hour time difference. That means arriving at HNL at 3 pm feels like 9 pm. Once you get the bags, car and drive to Aulani you need to add another 90+ minutes to that.

On top of that, factor in perhaps an earlier wakeup the morning you leave home so that you can get to the airport plus the wearing effect of a long flight (or two). For those of us who are gainfully unemployed (retired) this makes for a very long day. Something we are not used to.

Elima2015 · Mar 29, 2017

We have gone to Aulani twice and been too tired and too hungry at arrival to do an immediate stop at the grocery store. Both times we headed to the resort, ate dinner, and put the kids to bed. Then DH ran back out to shop for food while I unpacked the suitcases and the food and snacks we brought from home. Costco/Target/Safeway are a quick drive away and a fast trip later in the evening (vs. like 4:00 pm). However, if it were just DH and me, we could probably stop on the way and get it done.

So - I'd say to make your plans based on how long you will have been traveling to get there, the time in your home location, and with whom you are traveling.

CaliAdventurer · Mar 29, 2017

If you arrive before your room is ready, you may as well get your shopping done becuase otherwise you'll wandering without a chair likely until it is. Otherwise, wait til the next day and enjoy the sunset and sunrise from AMA AMA : )

cgattis · Mar 29, 2017

CaliAdventurer said:
If you arrive before your room is ready, you may as well get your shopping done becuase otherwise you'll wandering without a chair likely until it is. Otherwise, wait til the next day and enjoy the sunset and sunrise from AMA AMA : )

If we arrive before our room is ready, can the lounge be used the change into swimsuits? Or are there other restrooms with changing areas near the pool? Picturing the awesome Cozy Cone area at AoA, but doubt there would be anything that large.

mouseclick1 · Mar 29, 2017

Thanks to everyone for sharing. I think I'll stick with trying to get it out of way on the way to the resort. We will be dealing with a six hour time difference but it is just DH and me so we won't have to worry about dragging tired kids through Target!

OKW Lover · Mar 29, 2017

mouseclick1 said:
it is just DH and me so we won't have to worry about dragging tired kids through Target!

Dragging a tired husband can be just as bad. :duck:

CaliAdventurer · Mar 29, 2017

cgattis said:
If we arrive before our room is ready, can the lounge be used the change into swimsuits? Or are there other restrooms with changing areas near the pool? Picturing the awesome Cozy Cone area at AoA, but doubt there would be anything that large.

Yeah, you can get a timed key into the changing room but there is no storage so plan to keep your things. I know they've made the rules for the changing lounge a little more strict recently so you may want to call and ask the specifics. The only snafu will be that it will be very difficult to find chair to put your things until the later afternoon so pack as light as possible.

MouseOfCards · Mar 30, 2017

If you're hungry after the flight and drive, you can eat at the mall where the Target is located. Several restaurants right there (there's a Ramen restaurant there that's quite good and reasonably priced, and they included pot stickers with every meal). If you've got the energy, just do your shopping then, quick and easy. As another poster mentioned, if you're too fatigued, then check into Aulani, relax and enjoy the resort, and save the shopping for the next day. We also stopped by the Costco a few blocks from Target to stock up on groceries (fruits, eggs, milk, frozen juice bars, etc.).

By the way, we started our trip off with the breakfast buffet our first morning at Aulani, and ended with the dinner buffet on our last night. Everyone felt this was a great idea and really enjoyed the food (much better than our last trip, so they've really been improving in this area). During our stay, we also ordered Pizza from Ulu Cafe and saw lots of people doing the same.

Have a great trip!

alohamom · Mar 30, 2017

OKW Lover said:
Dragging a tired husband can be just as bad.

LOL, too true!

mrp4352 · Mar 30, 2017

nkereina said:
We were at Aulani by 4pm which worked out well because our room was ready when we arrived, and the bellmen were able to move all of our luggage and groceries for us with one trip.

When we shopped the day after arrival, the bellman were also willing to help us with getting the groceries up to the room. Well worth the tip money, IMHO!!

Stopping at Target on way to Aulani from airport?

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