Holiday shopping season gets early start

Shoppers hit stores a day before the traditional start of the season

UNFAZED by the early-morning dew, parking woes or even a minor earthquake, some shoppers turned out early yesterday before the official holiday shopping kickoff.

At Kmart on Nimitz Highway, hundreds of shoppers turned out for the store's 6 a.m. opening, where dozens of Christmas trees were being sold.

Thirty-five-year-old Lea Palimoo's family has made it a tradition to get a tree on Thanksgiving at the Kmart. Yesterday she picked out a 7-foot Douglas fir, which were selling for about $25.

After she picked out her tree, Palimoo went right to shopping, hoping she will not be headed toward after-holiday debt.

"Usually I just charge all the cards," Palimoo said. "I've got a lot of kids to shop for."

From the advertisements and prices she has seen, 28-year-old Chanell Omerod of Punchbowl said she might be spending more this year than last year.

"All the prices are higher this year," said Omerod, who said she has a list of about 20 people to shop for, including a host of nieces and nephews.

She wanted to get a head start on shopping because she is going on vacation in the middle of next month, and she wants to give gifts before she leaves.

At about 8:30 yesterday morning, 44-year-old Nelsa Sadaya was at Kmart for more than two hours, her cart was overflowing with gifts and she still was ready to tackle Black Friday this morning.

Many stores opened early this morning, some at midnight, signaling the start of the holiday shopping craze.

Every year, Sadaya hopes to avoid spending more than $100 per person, but that usually is not the case because of all the discounts.

"This year, it really depends on if there's a lot of sales," Sadaya said. "Sometimes I'll just give money away."

Wholesale businessman Dick Hong also was at Kmart yesterday, taking advantage of their caramel corn sales. Hong said he has so much confidence in consumer spending this year that his business, Gourmet Jelly Beans, will be opening its first display room in Kalihi today for other businesses.

His business specializes in snack foods, like dried seafood and beef jerky. He was hoping for a pre-Black Friday opening, but setting up the place took longer than he thought.

"It should do well," Hong said. "I have a lot of friends that I sell to, and now they can come pick it up. It should be a good Christmas."