Ready, set, shop!

Die-hard shoppers gave thanks Thursday morning to door-buster deals and Bluelight specials at Kmart on Nimitz Highway.

The double doors opened at 6 a.m. on Thanksgiving to about 150 shoppers, the first of whom had been waiting in line since 4:30 a.m., said store manager Anthony Florek. Kmart has been among retailers that sell on the day before the traditional Black Friday sales.

Popular morning items included pillows for $1.99 each, an assortment of toys and board games, and black-and-red Nakamichi Bluetooth headphones for $24.99, which was a savings of almost $50.

Gilbert Pelletier of Papakolea walked out with a 32-inch RCA HDTV for about $200 after making his rounds around the store four times. He said he was excited to set it up in his garage right when he got home and watch football games with his family. He said he got to Kmart about 30 minutes before the store opened, but waited until everyone went in.

“I got what I wanted,” he said. “I didn’t really have anything that I was going to come here for. But looking around, I got some stuff.”

Florek, who has worked Thanksgiving every year since he started at Kmart 23 years ago, said he saw many familiar faces, including the woman first in line Thursday, who was also the first in line last year.

He said he has seen about the same number of customers shop on Thanksgiving over the years and pointed out that many are smart shoppers who know what they want and where to get it.

There were about 32 associates working the morning shift, he said.

“Throughout the day it’s the same all day long, same traffic,” Florek said. “It’s a bit busier traffic (than other days), but we planned well. I think we have loyal shoppers that come, too.”

Desiree Wabinga, who had just gotten off work, said she did not plan on shopping Thanksgiving morning but had to after her husband forgot to buy oil to fry their turkey. She walked out of Kmart with a 3-gallon jug of oil and said she was relieved that she found it.

In the toy aisle, sisters Ann and Lynn Yamauchi nabbed several board games and toys and planned to pick up their mother to grab breakfast after they finished shopping.

“This is my first time (shopping on Thanksgiving),” said Lynn Yamauchi, pointing out that her sister, who is from Colorado, shops during the holidays. “She told me we better go early because she does this on the mainland.”

Jazmin Matapua and Tina Piedad, who had waited for about 20 minutes before Kmart opened, scored some Avengers figurines for $5.99 each for their son, whom they described as a big Avengers fan, and several pillows for $1.99 each.

“We got what we came for,” said Matapua, adding that she has been shopping on Thanksgiving for many years. “My mom actually took me since I was little, so I’m kind of familiar with all of the crowds and all of that.”