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It’s just before 9 a.m. on a weekday morning in April, and Donna Lynn Rodriguez is standing outside the Hawaiian Airlines cargo facility near Honolulu International Airport. Just a few minutes later she is gone, having loaded up boxes full of neighbor island produce destined for a local restaurant.
During the course of a day, Rodriguez might also go grocery shopping, drop off a vehicle at a body shop for repairs, file general excise tax returns downtown or even drive halfway across the island to retrieve a forgotten cellphone — all for other people.
No task is too small or mundane for her business, which she recently rebranded as 808-Errands.
“I love running errands,” she said. “Anything that can be delegated to another person, we’ll do it.”
As more Oahu residents realize that their time is more valuable than money, businesses like Rodriguez’s are springing up to offer solutions for everything from grocery shopping and general errands to laundry and meal delivery.
Supermarket chain Safeway launched a grocery delivery service on Oahu last year that allows customers to shop via a smartphone app or online. Delivery costs $6.95 when spending at least $150 ($9.95 for orders under $150).
“As someone who has no car, it is a convenient way to get groceries,” said Makiki resident Sylvia Flores. “For me, the time-saving and no hassle of finding a ride is worth the delivery fee. The app takes a little (patience) to work through, but just like shopping at the store it takes time to choose the right product.”
For pet owners, it’s not always about making a delivery. Picking up after four-legged family members is an unpleasant and time-consuming chore. Gotpoo.biz owner Ali Mathews-Bacon travels all over Oahu to scoop up dog poop.
“I get to my clients before some of them have even opened their eyes in the morning. I’ll let myself in and I take the poo away with me so they don’t have to deal with it,” she said.
Mathews-Bacon charges $12 per weekly visit for one dog and $3 for each additional animal.
TIME HACKS
>> Donna Lynn Rodriguez’s 808-Errands is available to run errands island-wide. A unique aspect of her business is the pricing structure: “I never want anyone to tell us we’re too expensive,” she said. “We let our clients determine the price they pay based off what they think is fair for what we provide. It’s mainly to be able to accommodate every demographic.” Call 377-2637 or visit 808errands.com.
>> Adele Kuge, the Hawaii Kai Gopher, caters to East Honolulu’s elderly population. She travels from Waialae Avenue to the Hawaii Kai Golf Course delivering medication, making Costco runs and visiting with senior clients to help with small tasks around the house. Rates vary. Call 783-1930 or email hawaiikaigopher@gmail.com.
>> Tied up at home or the office and can’t drop off those urgent documents or packages? Crosstown Couriers employs a staff of “cyclists who happen to deliver packages” from Kahala to the airport. Prices start at $8 for deliveries anywhere in the area of Ward Avenue to Aala Park within one hour ($12.50 for delivery in 30 minutes or less) to $17.20 for a delivery anywhere from Kaimuki to the airport ($29.95 for delivery within one hour).
Crosstown also can deliver larger items weighing up to 250 pounds and can employ multiple riders to complete deliveries faster. Pickups can be scheduled from 8 a.m. to as late as 3 or 4 p.m. depending on the delivery location. Call 853-0024 or visit crosstownhonolulu.com.
>> In addition to clearing pet waste, Gotpoo.biz owner Ali Mathews-Bacon sells dehydrated homemade dog treats and offers dog walking/hiking/outdoor adventure services along with operating a K9 bed-and-breakfast and K9 weight-loss boot camp out of her home in Kailua. Her poop-scooping fees start at $12 per weekly visit for one dog (add $3 for each additional animal and $7 for a second weekly visit). Call 497-9273 or email ali@gotpoo.biz.
FOOD DELIVERY
>> Safeway customers can shop via a smartphone app or by creating an account and logging into Safeway’s dedicated website (shop.safeway.com). Products are listed individually or by aisle, with delivery available from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. Fees are $6.95 when spending at least $150; $9.95 for orders under $150. You can save a few bucks by switching from a one-hour delivery window to a two- or four-hour window.
>> Whole Foods Market in Kahala offers delivery for $25 from Hawaii Kai to the airport with at least two days’ notice. Deliveries are possible to other neighborhoods for an additional fee. Personal shopper Bob Madison has spent the last five years taking care of customers’ needs at the Kahala store, and as the only employee dedicated to the task he’s gotten pretty familiar with their buying habits. Give Madison a call at 738-0820 from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays to put a credit card on file, place an order and set up delivery. Free curbside pickup is also available (call ahead to make sure your groceries are waiting when you arrive).
>> If you don’t have time to cook, consider Aloha 2 Go or Bite Squad (formerly known as Room Service in Paradise). Both companies partner with local restaurants to provide a delivery option with both app- and web-based ordering options. Delivery charges start at $4.99 and can go as high as $9.99 or more, depending on where the food is being delivered. Visit aloha2godelivery.com or bitesquad.com/honolulu-restaurant-delivery for more information.
LAUNDRY SERVICES
>> Young Laundry will wash, dry and fold your dirty clothes for $26 per 20-pound bag, with free pickup and delivery available in Aiea, Pearl City, Manoa, Hawaii Kai, Kahala and Kailua. Specialized bags used for the service are available for $6 each. Call 836-1661 to place a credit card on file and schedule a pickup.
>> Launderland at 2025 S. Beretania St. offers drive-through service providing wash, dry and fold for $1.35 per pound with a two-day turnaround. They’re open from 6 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. daily, which is convenient for customers stopping by before and/or after work. Call 955-7305.
>> If you’re too pressed for time to press your clothes, Hakuyosha Clean Living offers free pickup and delivery of dry cleaning and laundry at home or the office, from Hawaii Kai to Waipahu as well as in Mililani, Kaneohe and Kailua. Prices, which include pressing, range from $4.70 for a men’s cotton dress shirt and $8.55 for pants to $18.95 for two-piece wool suits and $13.70 and up for dresses. Call 955-6116 or email hakuyosha@hakuyosha.com.
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