These 5 Hawaii-Only Costco Items Are Giving Us Serious FOMO

On a typical day, your local Costco is a total treasure trove of new arrivals, special supersized treats, and fun limited-time finds. But head to a more “unique” Costco store — like the ones scattered across the Hawaiian islands — and you’ll find even more unique items that will make you feel like you’ve totally been missing out.

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As a regular visitor to Hawaii and dedicated Costco shopper, I’ve noticed that Hawaii’s Costco stores offer incredible items that you can’t find anywhere else. They cater to local tastes and ingredients, and once you try them, you’ll realize that these Hawaii exclusives are Costco gems you’ll wish we had on the mainland. Below are the five exclusives I always make sure to pick up during my Costco trips while visiting Maui, Oahu, or Kauai.

Fresh Poke

Poke may be pretty easy to find in my home state of California, but it’s not something I’ve ever encountered at Costco — but in Hawaii, it’s plentiful. Head to the prepared foods and meals section of any Hawaiian Costco store, and you’ll find an entire refrigerator dedicated to different kinds of poke.

Whether you like your poke spicy with plenty of flavor or simple and straightforward, you’ll find plenty of freshly-made options. I always like to grab a Fresh Shoyu Poke, but my husband’s favorites are the Spicy Ahi Tuna Poke and Ahi Tuna Wasabi Poke. After you discover the selection, you’ll want to stock up (even though you unfortunately can’t stash it in your suitcase to carry home).

POG

Even if you’re not a big juice fan, POG is a must-try in Hawaii — and at Costco, you’ll find plenty of POG in supersized containers. You can easily pick up a gallon, something that’s impossible to do at mainland stores.

What is POG? While I personally like using it as a mixer for Koloa Rum (another great Costco Hawaii find and local brand), it’s a mix of three fruit juices: passion fruit, orange, and guava. Yes, it’s sweet, but it’s also wonderfully refreshing and tropical. It’s tasty on its own or mixed with your favorite booze (POG mimosas, anyone?). And you’ll find it incredibly easy to sip your way through a Costco-sized gallon while visiting.

Taro Chips

While you’ll find the usual selection of potato chips, tortilla chips, and other crunchy snack options at Hawaiian Costco locations, you’ll also find a more unique option: taro chips. Made by the Hawaiian Chip Company, they’re officially called Sweet Potato & Taro Chips… but they’re far from any other kind of sweet potato chip you’ve ever tried.

These aren’t thin, wispy chips; they’re made with locally-grown Hawaiian taro and sweet potatoes, covered in a light coating of salt, and air-crisped. They’re thicker, heftier, and deliver one seriously satisfying crunch. They’re earthy thanks to the taro but slightly sweet. While you can eat them solo, they make the perfect pairing for Costco’s freshly-made poke (and these chips won’t falter under every scoop of ahi!).

Portuguese Sausage

You can find plenty of sausage options at your local Costco, but don’t skip it while you’re in Hawaii — Hawaiian Costco stores sell Portuguese sausage, a staple breakfast food that you need to try. This smoked, cured sausage is made with pork and sold in short links. But, like plenty of Hawaiian specialties, it has a twist: It’s sweet and mild, with less of a smoky flavor than you might expect.

Once you’ve gotten some Portuguese sausage from Costco, it’s easy to whip up a Hawaiian breakfast — all you need is eggs and rice (or both!) and pan-fried slices of sausage.

Kauai Coffee (and Other Hawaiian Coffee Brands)

Hawaii is obviously known for its coffee, and you can pick up huge bags of ground coffee or whole beans at the Costco locations across the islands. You won’t find your basic coffee brands here; instead, you can shop an array of local coffees, which makes every morning so much better.

My personal favorite is Kauai Coffee, which sells two of its best basic roasts — medium roast and peaberry — made in Kauai at Costco stores. However, you can also try Molokai Estate’s Molokai-grown coffee or a variety of Kona coffees that come from the Big Island of Hawaii. Even more importantly, you can grab a huge bag at a lower price than many stores across the islands. If you’re hoping to bring some of that excellent coffee home, a Costco-sized bag or two is the best choice.