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By Ken Sakamoto, Star-Bulletin
Richard Tajiri, owner of Christmas Trees of Hawaii, which
appears annually on a vacant lot on Kapiolani Blvd., sprays
decorative flock on one of his trees. Maui-born Tajiri, who
lives in Oregon, has been bringing trees to Hawaii
for 24 years.

Christmas tree
rush takes precedence
over turkey for many

'I like to get a tree early so we
can enjoy it as much as we can,'
one eager shopper says

---

By Pat Gee
Star-Bulletin

Before having a single bite of turkey to celebrate Thanksgiving, shoppers stood in line around Big Kmart's parking lot, waiting for the store to open.

When the Nimitz Highway store opened at 7 a.m. yesterday, "there was a mad rush" toward the Christmas trees, said Paul Morita, employee in charge of distribution. He said there was already a line when he arrived before 6 a.m.

Shoppers were taking advantage of the Thanksgiving Day sale price of $25.

"It's such a good price for a 6- to 7-foot tree," said Tanya Florin of Nuuanu.

Connie Holladay of Kaneohe went to buy her tree at the more civilized hour of noon -- after she had cooked her turkey.

"Christmas comes only once a year," she said. "I like to get a tree early so we can enjoy it as much as we can."

For the 24th year in a row, Maui-born Richard Tajiri of Oregon put up his "Christmas Trees of Hawaii" signs on an empty lot on Kapiolani Boulevard, makai of Blaisdell Center. Tajiri expects to sell some 6,000 trees, as he does every year. He brings in 20 to 22 Matson containers every year.

Although it's unbelievable, "killer" work, Tajiri continues to bring trees to Hawaii because, he said: "We have a following. If we don't come, people are disappointed."

Tajiri said he picks out each tree, beginning in August, to be sure he is getting the "best trees."

He said there is a big shortage of trees on the mainland this year, especially grands and nobles.

As a result, farmers doubled their prices, and Tajiri had to pay more for the trees, but he said he doesn't intend to raise his cost to customers more than a couple of dollars.