CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARBULLETIN.COM Shoppers flocked to stores and malls yesterday to take advantage of back-to-school specials. A shopper stood outside the Gap at Ala Moana Center. Today is the first day that many public schools resume classes.

When "back to school" means "time to shop," parents and businesses learn...

Lessons in economics

A steady line of people, most with children in tow, filed past check-out counters on the last Sunday before many public schools start classes.

Their purchases -- black composition notebooks, scissors, #2 pencils, glue, folders, pens, a box of 24 crayons, portfolio notebooks with pockets, protractors, highlighters, rulers, Post-It notes, liquid hand soap, whiteout, paper, band aids, facial tissue athletic shoes for PE -- were checked off against a list that each school prepares for parents of what is needed when classes start again.

For office supply stores like Fisher Hawaii, back to school is the busiest time of the year -- bigger than Christmas and New Year when many businesses re-stock their supplies.

"This has become huge for us," said Tom Hallaman, retail group manager for Fisher Hawaii.

Hallaman said the back to school market is extremely competitive. Fisher and other stores will match or beat prices, even if it means taking a loss, to attract shoppers because many parents comparison shop for bargains, Hallaman said.

"They're selling that size crayons five for a dollar at Wal-Mart," one parent remarked to another shopper in the school supply aisle at Longs Ala Moana. "I just came from there."

CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARBULLETIN.COM Teenagers practiced their break-dancing moves yesterday in front of the Ala Moana Sears. Clockwise from top left are Raedon Pagba, Albert Dulay, Tammie Marquez, Royce Smith, Chantell Pascua, Tiffany Pagtulingan, Jarvis Pascua, Sean Matthews and Sonny McEwen. The group went to the mall to "cruise" and celebrate Chantell's birthday before returning to Campbell and Kapolei high schools.

She bought about $12 worth of supplies at Longs and spent $30 at Fisher. Wallen was headed back to Longs where some items were cheaper, with her husband Gary as a reluctant driver.

"If it were up to me I'd buy it all in one place," Gary Wallen said.

Erchie Tubania, whose son Brendon is going to Our Lady of Perpetual Health next month, spent about $20 to $30 yesterday. As a dependent, she also shops at the military exchange but goes off-base if supplies are cheaper or if there is more selection.

Besides paper and pencils, she also has to buy uniforms, shoes, backpacks and other supplies.

"That's why I shop around," she said.

The earlier public school year means last weekend and this week may be the busiest time of the year for Fisher, Hallaman said.

But it's too early to tell if there will be a drop-off in sales because private schools and the University of Hawaii return in August and back to school shoppers will continue to buy supplies until then.

Hallaman said parents can spent $60 to $80 per student on school supplies.

"If you've got two or three kids now, it's not cheap to send them back to school," Hallaman said.