Shoppers blitz as the end is near

Bargain hunters and last-minute buyers cram Ala Moana as Christmas approaches

After a day of pushing through crowds and sleuthing out sales, Mylet Salcedo sat on a bench at Ala Moana Center this weekend with her chin tucked in her cupped hands and a herd of large bags filled with presents for more than a dozen friends and family members at her feet.

Her sister, Pamela, sat beside her wearing a blank stare -- a telling symptom of sheer shopping exhaustion.

"I finished today," Mylet Salcedo said, forming a triumphant smile, then quickly making it disappear. "Now, I'm ready to wrap."

Thousands in the islands came out yesterday and on Saturday to finish -- or start -- their shopping on the last weekend before Christmas. With many shoppers still seeking out hard-to-find items or stalling for big sales, the weekend was expected to be a boon for retailers.

Last year, the Saturday before the Christmas weekend was the highest-grossing shopping day of the season, according to the International Council of Shopping Centers, a trade association for the industry.

For some, like the Salcedo sisters, last-minute Christmas shopping is a tradition. It is just as important to making the holiday feel complete as eating fruitcake, hanging ornaments and caroling. And the crowds, the long lines and the frustration -- they are all a part of the experience.

"It sucks," said Lily Morningstar, who was shopping with a friend and had just spent about $600 on gifts for 10 people. "Parking sucks, traffic sucks. But every year, we do it."

Shoppers said the crowds this weekend at Ala Moana were about the same as last year. Some said the sales were, too.

Many stores at Ala Moana posted signs boasting 50 to 60 percent off some merchandise, while others advertised buy-one-get-one-free promotions.

In front of the Disney store at Ala Moana, the Ortiz family sought refuge from an unending stream of shoppers by ducking behind a standing locator map. Cherie Ortiz quickly started coordinating the group on their next move, large bags swinging in her hands as she spoke.

Her husband, Roy, used the reprieve to discipline his 5-year-old, who was trying his hardest to detach the sun visor on his little sister's stroller.

The parents, perennial late shoppers, had decided to include their four children for the first time in their last-minute Christmas shopping tradition.

But by 2:30 p.m., with their shopping only halfway finished, the two decided to call it quits and come back later in the week by themselves.

"We'll be back," Cherie Ortiz said, letting out an exaggerated sigh, "when we get a sitter." Meanwhile, the Ortizes' children -- ages 2, 5, 8 and 13 -- looked tired, hot and as if they would have rather stayed home anyway.

On a planter bench outside the Papyrus store, one man sat cross-armed with his grandson, steadily watching shoppers whiz by as he waited for his wife to finish the couple's shopping.

"She has half of our shopping finished," said Danny, who would not give his last name, with a laugh. "We're always late -- every year."