Plant Exchange / Swap Tuesday, June 12, 2018

This month's plant exchange takes place at Kaiser High School from 4-6pm.  Bring a plant, take a plant.  It's a casual exchange with much to offer.  Some of the plants we expect are:

Caladium (pictured)
Mint
Cassava
Soursop
Bromeliad
Airplants / Succulents
Oregano
Kupukupu fern
Spider plant
Kalanchoe
Staghorn fern
Turmeric (Olena)
Kukui
Green onion
Oyster plant
Spider lily
(Airlay) Hong Kong Pink Guava
Avocado
Alocasia
Christmas lights peppers
Mother-in-law's tongue (straight, variegated leaf)

We will also have seeds and planting pots.  Come browse!  If you don't have plants to exchange now, you can still participate; you may also leave voluntary donations for the Kaiser PTSA.  It's a fun community event and a wonderful way to share and receive.

Moving our regular day to the second Tuesday of each month.  The next event takes place on June 12 at Kaiser High School's farmer's market (4pm to 6pm).  Bring your exchanges and see what others have brought.  We'll have a variety of items to start with and I'll post them here in the next few days.

Hawaii Kai Plant exchange May 8, 2018 4-6 at Kaiser HS parking lot

The rain affected the number of plants for May, but we do have a few indoor plants as well as beautiful popcorn orchid just beginning to bloom.  We've also added a few selections to the succulent collection, so please come and browse.  Bring a plant and take a plant.  It's a great way to expand your garden collection while helping others do the same.

(If you don't have plants to trade, don't worry.  Come browse and you can always leave a donation.  We give the money to Kaiser Hish School's PTSA.)

After living in a dense urban area like San Francisco, I get excited when I hear a new delivery service has opened.  This week, Instacart began Oahu deliveries.  Included in their delivery group, are stores such as CVS, Safeway, Foodland, Times, Petco and even Costco.

The delivery price seems reasonable.  It starts at $5.99 and has a minimum purchase amount of $35.  There is, however, a markup on goods.  At first glance, the markup didn't seem particularly steep to me.  For instance, although you normally pay $4.99 for a Costco rotisserie chicken, $6.09 didn't seem that exorbitant.  Add to that, you don't need a Costco membership.

On second glance, however, I realized how quickly these upcharges add up.  Here's a breakdown of five items:

Instacart will apply coupons from Costco's coupon book, so pricewise, that awash.  Delivery times vary widely: If you're hoping to eat rotisserie chicken in the next hour, you're probably out of luck.  Delivery windows are one hour long, and strangely, slot availability is staggered even at this early phase of launch.

Selection also varies.  Toiletries are largely unavailable, ditto for electronics -- even something as mundane as an SD card.  A couple of products listed I've never seen at the Hawaii Kai store.  For instance, mainland Kirkland eggs sold in a 24-pack.  Makes me wonder if that can be delivered at all.

My take:  if you don't have a car this is a fabulous service.  Not only can you get Costco goods (and largely split the difference in savings between Instacart and yourself -- prices are still lower than your standard grocery), you also don't need a membership.  If you happen to live five minutes from Hawaii Kai Costco (which is usually not crowded, except on weekends) and have a car, I think your money and time are better spent shopping in person.

10/12/2017 - A water main break in the early hours of 10/12 affected Mariner's Ridge residents.  The road was partially blocked while Board of Water Supply employees fixed the leak, and a water wagon was provided for affected homes. [KHON]

10/9/2017 - Instacart begins offering grocery delivery service for the East Oahu area this week.  Deliveries start at $5.99 each, and the first one is free.  There are also three express options that promise expedited deliveries from any of the available stores for an annual fee. For 3 deliveries a month the express option cost is $79/year.  For 4 deliveries a month, $99/year.  For unlimited deliveries, the cost is $149/year.  There is a minimum delivery of $35 but multiple stores can be selected.  Instacart will deliver goods from Safeway, Costco, CVS, Petco and Times.  Pricing practices vary among outlets, but CVS indicates it charges the in-store price, and Costco does not indicate a markup but that prices may vary from the local store. [Instacart]