Everybody has to complain about something. Here in Boston, the hot topic of the day is gas prices. The gas station next door is currently at $3.39 for regular. I can only imagine what it’s up to at home - $4.28? The local petroleum processors in Hawaii ought to be ashamed of themselves for raping the local wallet. But then, they have no conscience.

Several articles back home have talked about the impending Whole Foods store on Maui, to the point where Down to Earth on Dairy Road was circulating a petition regarding the new store (I don’t remember why). I visited the brand new Whole Foods Shop near Symphony Hall and after three trips I have to say Down to Earth and Mana Foods have little to worry about as far as I can tell.

To begin with, the Whole Foods prices are ridiculous. My reaction nearly everywhere on the mainland is, “Wow, look at how cheap this is,” whatever ‘this’might refer to. Not at Whole Foods - the prices were HIGHER than those on Maui, if you can believe it. $8 for a 2 oz. organic chocolate bar? Who do they think they’re kidding? And if you want Kashi cereal, shop at Costco becuase Whole Foods charges more for their small box on the mainland than Costco does for the large one on Maui.

And the way they tout how they recycle - appears more words than action. Yes, they don’t use plastic bags, but they double bag their “special” paper bags, a thick, nearly cardboard sack that has to cost a lot of trees.

Their selection was nothing to write home about either. I could find neither of the non-dairy milks I buy at Mana any day I need them.

In short, I can’t see how they are going to transport product to Maui and lower the price they charge on the Mainland. But, time will tell.

Finally, what we DO need on Maui is a Trader Joe’s. Good, cheap, often organic foods, lots of choices, and smiling faces. Shopping Joe’s is a happy time. It sure beats the pathetic excuse of a Safeway Store in Kahului.

– Maui Curmudgeon, somewhere in Boston