06-20-2014, 10:16 AM
Welcome to Puna!! Here's my 6-cents...
1. Avoid the crowds at Maku'u and go to the marketplace across from Foodland (kitty corner from McD's) in Keaau. Produce stands open all days of the week and nice folks. But if you go there, you'll miss the green papaya salad, talking story with the neighbors, and the live music of Maku'u. (go early when it's not so crowded btw)
2. You WILL, eventually, not hear the roosters. It's like having kids. Eventually, you don't hear them scream anymore.
3. Sharwil avos are my favorite. Malamas great, too. The big-ass ones - # of varieties - tend to be stringy and have no taste (imo)
4. Beware the weird Yield signs at right-hand turns. Your body habit will be that the car on the highway turning right has the right-of-way to cars turning left. Not so, say, on 130 at Maku'u or, most notably the entrance into Pahoa going south - where the right turners are to yield to the left turners. It has caused many an accident and I think it's ridiculous bc there is no rhyme or reason where these are. Same situation elsewhere (left turn lane on the highway, etc), no yield sign. If you are in that left-turn lane, wait a sec to make sure the guy is going to yield for you. 50% of the time he isn't. (in my experience)
5. You are right about each store being good for something different. Believe it or not, Target has some local produce (it's behind the Walmart). I get my lettuce and cukes there. Many food products (esp. frozen) that are in Safeway or Foodland or KTA are up to 50% less at Target, then another 5% off if you have a Target card. I notice it on brand-names esp. Best Foods mayo at Foodland: $6.50; Best Foods mayo at Target: $3.69. Other than that, you will find the prices start to look normal. (Altho $6.50 for a jar of mayo will never look normal to me.)
Enjoy the ride. Loved the video.
6. Half the time people coming off of lateral roads onto larger roads (like onto Alii or Maku'u or Paradise), don't stop, they just go.
7. First 5 or so days of the month are extra crowded at Walmart, etc. bc the monthly checks come in.
1. Avoid the crowds at Maku'u and go to the marketplace across from Foodland (kitty corner from McD's) in Keaau. Produce stands open all days of the week and nice folks. But if you go there, you'll miss the green papaya salad, talking story with the neighbors, and the live music of Maku'u. (go early when it's not so crowded btw)
2. You WILL, eventually, not hear the roosters. It's like having kids. Eventually, you don't hear them scream anymore.
3. Sharwil avos are my favorite. Malamas great, too. The big-ass ones - # of varieties - tend to be stringy and have no taste (imo)
4. Beware the weird Yield signs at right-hand turns. Your body habit will be that the car on the highway turning right has the right-of-way to cars turning left. Not so, say, on 130 at Maku'u or, most notably the entrance into Pahoa going south - where the right turners are to yield to the left turners. It has caused many an accident and I think it's ridiculous bc there is no rhyme or reason where these are. Same situation elsewhere (left turn lane on the highway, etc), no yield sign. If you are in that left-turn lane, wait a sec to make sure the guy is going to yield for you. 50% of the time he isn't. (in my experience)
5. You are right about each store being good for something different. Believe it or not, Target has some local produce (it's behind the Walmart). I get my lettuce and cukes there. Many food products (esp. frozen) that are in Safeway or Foodland or KTA are up to 50% less at Target, then another 5% off if you have a Target card. I notice it on brand-names esp. Best Foods mayo at Foodland: $6.50; Best Foods mayo at Target: $3.69. Other than that, you will find the prices start to look normal. (Altho $6.50 for a jar of mayo will never look normal to me.)
Enjoy the ride. Loved the video.
6. Half the time people coming off of lateral roads onto larger roads (like onto Alii or Maku'u or Paradise), don't stop, they just go.
7. First 5 or so days of the month are extra crowded at Walmart, etc. bc the monthly checks come in.