GENEVIEVE A. SUZUKI / GSUZUKI@STARBULLETIN.COM Larry Chinen was buying toilet paper at the Pali Safeway yesterday in the event of a West Coast dockworkers strike. Another brand was on sale but not on the shelves immediately, and Chinen later replaced the Cottonelle toilet paper in his basket with the on-sale brand.

Possible strike
triggers run
on toilet paper

Shoppers are stocking up with
several rolls in case West Coast
dockworkers walk out

---

By Genevieve A. Suzuki
gsuzuki@starbulletin.com

Larry Chinen went into the Pali Safeway yesterday to stock up on toilet paper, but "not too much. I don't think the strike going last long."

Chinen was chagrined to find MD toilet paper -- on sale for $10.72 for two 12-pack double rolls -- sold out. "All the ones on sale, no more already," he said, shaking his head. "Gotta buy the more expensive ones."

He almost left with toilet paper that cost about a dollar more, but a stock clerk returned with the last four MD packages. "This is all we've got," the clerk said, dropping the toilet paper at the head of the aisle. Chinen took the last two after another customer immediately grabbed two for herself.

Shoppers -- worried about rice and toilet paper because of a threatened dockworkers slowdown on the West Coast -- are making sure their regular shopping trip includes at least a 12-pack of toilet paper. But rice, a staple in the islands, is not as selling as fast.

Waipahu Wal-Mart shoppers began purchasing more of the basics about four months ago when talk began about a possible dockworkers strike, according to the store's daytime management.

Rice has not been as popular as paper products, said a Wal-Mart manager who declined to give her name.

"We got a large quantity in, but it's not selling like we thought it would. Maybe it'll change after last night's news," she said yesterday.

Pali Safeway customer Peter Huang said he was going to buy "as much as I can." He looked at the almost empty shelves. "It's so empty now. I went to Longs but Longs is not on sale." The Pali Longs shelf was fully stocked yesterday with MD toilet paper.

"It's bad, you know," said Huang, 57. "It's going to hurt the economy."

As Huang took from a nearby dispenser a coupon for 50 cents off Quilted Northern toilet paper, Alana Mariota hurried to put a 12-pack of Safeway's brand in her cart.

Mariota, 37, said she did not have much time to shop but decided to buy some paper products after seeing a news report on a possible dockworkers slowdown. "Just in case," said Mariota as she also picked up paper towels.

There has been an increase in sales of both toilet paper and rice, said Mike Hayes, the manager at the Costco in Waipio. "Nothing like it was in '99. It's been busy for rice and toilet paper, but nothing extraordinary."

The number of shoppers has not increased, Hayes said, but the store's regular shoppers are choosing to buy items -- like toilet paper -- for which they would normally wait about two weeks.

"People aren't buying multiple packages like they did three years ago," Hayes said. "At least, not yet."

GENEVIEVE A. SUZUKI / GSUZUKI@STARBULLETIN.COM An empty toilet paper display sat in the aisle of the Pali Safeway yesterday.