Consumer prices in Honolulu up 4.5% forces locals to find savings wherever they can

HONOLULU (KHON2) — A new study said consumer prices in Honolulu are up 4.5% in the last year. That’s 50-percent higher than the national average. It’s forcing many to find savings wherever they can.

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Sam’s seafood market has been in Chinatown for more than 15 years. He said business is actually picking up.

“Business is good now,” said Sam Thepsenavong of Sam’s Seafood Market. “It’s getting better. So it is better now than before”

Surprising, considering a new report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (under the Dept. of Labor) said consumer prices in Honolulu have gone up 4.5% in the last 12 months.

The national average is just 2.9%. The biggest increases – housing and apparel. Food is up about 3%.

“The price for produce and everything, it’s such a big opposite so I don’t know how the locals survive here,” said Kim Thach, visitor from California.

“Yes everything expensive,” said Nattaya Chamnanyont Chung, Pearl City resident and owner of No Ka Oi Thai Food truck. “We pay for the oxygen. We pay for the trade wind that’s why.”

Sam believes business in Chinatown is picking up because more locals are coming to shop for more competitive prices.

“Company price jack up big time,” said Thepsenavong. “But we try to keep the price down as much as we can. Low price, we can keep the customer here.”

“It is verrrry expensive here,” said Lina Thach, visitor from California. “More expensive than California and more expensive that Europe. Even for produce and eating out.”

Thepsenavong said moi fish is one of his best sellers. He sells frozen for $6.99/pound. In a regular supermarket, he added it’s probably double the price. Another popular seller – chicken wings. He sells it for $4.99/pound. Thepsenavong guesses in a supermarket, it’s $6.99/pound.

Locals acknowledge the price of paradise is steep. But can be done if you budget.

“That’s why everyone say Hawaii expensive but how smart you stay here that’s the point,” said Chamnanyont Chung. “If you smart to stay here, not expensive like that.”

“I hope to be better and get more busy so everybody can come to Chinatown,” said Thepsenavong.