An islandwide blackout that disrupted business on the busiest shopping day after Christmas didn't stop consumers from flooding the malls yesterday.

Dozens Of Patrons Flooded Aina Haina Business

 

Many shops were closed due to no electricity but the gas stove at Jack’s Restaurant attracted residents looking for a hot meal.

 

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  However, the storm came as retailers desperately tried to recoup lower holiday sales this season. The damage and losses are yet to be determined.

“;It was a significant disruption, considering that it was the busiest shopping day after Christmas,”; said Matthew Derby, a spokesman for Ala Moana Center, where at least a half-dozen stores were still closed yesterday afternoon due to electrical and water issues. “;Unfortunately, it came at a time when ... the mall was very busy and it's a big time for returns, after-Christmas sales and also gift-card redemptions.”;

The setback didn't prevent shoppers from barraging stores en masse, with long lines at many restaurants and crowded parking lots at Pearlridge and Ala Moana Centers.

Wade and Lori Shimoda took their children, Aaron, 10, and Robyn, 7, to Pearlridge yesterday morning to get out of their Moanalua residence, which still had no power.

“;We got tired of doing board games,”; Lori said. “;It's kind of hard to go shopping because (the kids) got so much for Christmas. There isn't really anything we actually need; it's all extra wants versus needs.”;

Nonetheless, the added foot traffic was welcome by retailers.

A line reached the door at the Mililani Shopping Center Starbucks, which opened nearly five hours late yesterday morning.

“;We're just getting customers later - we'll be fine,”; said store manager Dave Cruz.

Stores were gradually opening at Windward Mall after power resumed at around noon, according to General Manager Jonathan Kim. However, it was too early to determine the sales loss suffered because the mall closed at least four hours early Friday.

Waikiki Area Finds Relief After Blackout

 

Waikiki residents, tourists and shop owners try to continue business after the island-wide blackout.

 

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“;We lost out on some sales,”; he said. “;Obviously, we were looking forward to a good holiday season.”;

Jan Kemp was at Mililani Shopping Center bright and early yesterday morning, buying her ritual Starbucks coffee and heading into Ross Dress for Less, which opened about 45 minutes late yesterday.

Alison Cardoza, Ross' store manager, didn't expect business to be affected substantially by the power failure because the retail outlet had already hit its sales quota before the electricity went down.

Foodland in Mililani ran a backup power generator and was able to open during normal business hours, 6 a.m. to midnight, and therefore didn't anticipate any effect on sales, according to office clerk Ashley Woodfall.

“;We had to cover up some refrigeration areas, like the freezer areas, because we didn't want air to come out. ... but everything turned out fine,”; she said.

Business went relatively smoothly at the major Waikiki hotels, including properties operated by Outrigger Hotels & Resorts and Starwood Hotels & Resorts.

“;At times it almost seemed like a party atmosphere,”; said Bill Comstock, general manager of Outrigger Reef on the Beach, whose in-house snack shop stayed open late with lines continually out the door and lanterns lighting up walkways. “;We provided glow sticks in every room, had water available in the morning, put coffee out and went to all the departments and took their Christmas goodies and put it out at the desks so that guests could have something until the restaurant opened.”;

Meanwhile, Sheraton Waikiki booked between 40 and 50 additional rooms the day after Christmas by travelers whose flights were canceled, according to Scott Kawasaki, director of public relations for Starwood.

The Sheraton cooked using gas ranges and was able to serve all of its guests as well as customers of other hotels whose food and beverage operations were inoperable, he said.

“;A lot of people stayed late, they took care of guests and nobody went home hungry,”; Kawasaki said, adding that more than 800 people were served from 7 to 11 p.m.