s r.
Yelp
LOL! I rolled reading other yelpers reviews of this place. It makes me wonder where/how people find out about it....from a song?! Well, okay...I guess you believe what you see in television and movies, too.
So let's review the basic information we all need in order to survive as adults.
1) basic economics----supply and demand---Just like at the airport, once you pass security, where supply is little and demand is high, people can charge the price that the market can get.
2) capitalism---the market sets the prices---Whatever people are willing to pay determines how much someone can charge....think Prada or Gucci, or better yet, our gas prices that are nearing the $4/gallon mark...people haven't curtailed their demand, thus the price continues to rise.... basic supply and demand, along with analyst forecasts, etc.
This is the basic thing to remember....it applies all over the globe. Prepare in advance or be willing to pay for it later.
As far as this general store goes, I think its cool just to stop in and check it out. It gives me the feeling that I have traveled back to a time when things were done differently...when people bought just what they needed, because that was all they could afford...no frills, no luxury, just dirt, clapboard, bathroom facilities, and a register. One look at the prices, however, will immediately snap you back into the present.
That said, this little general store can charge whatever the hell they want, and you get to decide how bad you need/want it. I've traveled over much of the world, and regardless of politics... capitalist/socialist/communist/dictatorship/oligarchy...this is the same...supply and demand...it's the law of our land. You could also think of it as the Wal-Mart effect.
So, If you failed to properly supply yourself for any imaginable event that might transpire during your trip up the road to Hana, and you find yourself having to buy something here, you most definitely are going to pay a premium for the CONVENIENCE of buying it in a remote location. Yes, they, too, are paying $4/gallon to have all that stuff transported up that winding, twisting road you just traveled. As far as I know, they haven't installed a heliport in the back. And, they aren't your close friend or family, so they aren't giving you a huge discount. They also aren't Wal-Mart, so the price they pay per item is higher...much higher...because their buying power is low, much like the demand for their goods.
Many guide books will warn you of this if you have the foresight to pick one up before you head this way. It's not complex, it's basic economics. Regardless of its old world charm, it's a business, trying to survive like the rest of us. I don't recommend it as a place you should make a trek, simply for seeing the general store. Otherwise, you're going to be pissed that you spent all this time and money getting here. It's just a place to stop in and check out, maybe use their bathroom, buy a bottle of water or pack of gum, on your way to, or from, the 7 Sacred Pools or Haleakala.
Please, no more yelpers believing some romanticized lyrics you've heard in a folk song. This is the age of the Internet. We all have a wealth of information at our fingertips. That's why we're here, yes?
Oh, and I far as I can remember, they offer free directions and info on the area, as well. That's a bargain!