STRONG START

CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM Early shoppers, left, Kimberlee Luke, with mother Sheri and sister Ashley started the holiday season off Friday at Wet Seal in Ala Moana Center. Retailers nationwide said the season began with sales that were better than expected.

STILL LIFE WITH PENGUIN

FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM Christmas arrangements were on their way to the grounds of City Hall yesterday. City worker Charley Chinn positioned a hefty penguin sculpture for the bigger-than-life-size holiday display.

LIGHTS FOR HANUKKAH

GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM Israel Chudaitov, left, assisted then-Gov.-elect Linda Lingle on Sunday evening at Waikiki Gateway Park during a menorah lighting ceremony to mark the Hanukkah season.