Post-Christmas shopping frenzy packs Oahu stores

Throngs of deal-hungry shoppers flocked to Hawaii stores Monday, taking advantage of after-Christmas markdowns to snap up everything from discounted electronics to clothes on what was a day off for many.

By around noon it was tough to squeeze through the crowds at Pearlridge Center, mall personnel reported, and Ala Moana Center was "at capacity," a spokesman said, with lines forming outside at least one high-end shop to limit the number of people inside at any one time.

"We have 10,000 parking spaces and they’re full," said Scott Creel, Ala Moana Center group marketing manager. "It’s a holiday. There are a lot of people off. The weather’s great and people are shopping more."

Malia Hutton and her mother, Mary, got to Ala Moana at about 7 a.m. to shop at stores that opened early. By lunchtime the two were weighed down with shopping bags from the Disney Store, Old Navy and Lululemon Athletica.

"There are some really good deals," said Malia Hutton of Aiea.

Coming out for day-after-Christmas sales is a tradition for Hutton, who said she wasn’t disappointed this year: The discounts were deeper and the crowds bigger. "It seems like everything’s doing better," she said.

Dec. 26 has become one of the busiest shopping days of the year as people redeem gift cards, make merchandise exchanges and seek out post-Christmas bargains.

National analysts predict this year’s day-after-Christmas retail activity will be more lucrative than the last few years’, rounding out a brighter-than-forecast holiday shopping season.

"Things have turned up a bit,"said Fred Paine, general manager at Pearlridge Center. "The whole season, it’s reminiscent of three or four years ago," before the economic downturn.

Paine said the crowds at Pearlridge on Monday were "unbelievable."

He got to the mall at about 8 a.m., an hour before it opened, and found the parking lot at Macy’s packed. "People were just waiting for stores to open," Paine said, adding, "I went down for lunch and it was difficult to maneuver."

Crowds also converged on big-box and discount stores and electronics retailers advertising deep discounts.

At Kmart in Iwilei a line of about 30 people had formed before the store opened.

Gerald Rose, assistant manager, said shoppers were going for sales on everything from televisions to party supplies to storage boxes for Christmas decorations.

"It’s been very busy," he said.

Shoppers who arrived early at Ala Moana Center were rewarded with plenty of parking and special door-busters. By midday, though, parking was a bear, and some shelves were emptying.

At Neiman Marcus there were small crowds gathered around racks of clothing going for upward of 60 percent off. Quickly disappearing Christmas decorations were going for 50 percent off.

At Bath & Body Works, aisles were clogged as people snagged discounts — of 50 to 75 percent off — on everything from shower gels to holiday candles.

And at upscale apparel retailer Tory Burch, a sale on handbags drew a line of shoppers waiting for their turn to be let into the store.

Near the back of the line of about a dozen people was Lea Damo of Nuuanu, who had already hit Macy’s, Old Navy and Sears.

The sales are "better this year," she said, adding that it also appeared busier.

The Ruiz family of Waikele got to Ala Moana at about 7 a.m. to beat the crowds and found deals at Old Navy and the Lego store. "Everybody’s off today," said Raynette Ruiz, explaining why the family of four came out to shop.

Dee Alumbaugh of Hawaii Kai got to the mall at about 6 a.m. She said it was busy but "not as crazy as Black Friday,"the day after Thanksgiving. "I was a little bit surprised."

Alumbaugh, who was shopping with friend Celina Kaliga of Makiki, said the best bargain she found was perfume for 40 percent off at Victoria’s Secret. "It was cheap," she said.

Maikalani Eli, 19, of Kapolei was at the mall to make a few exchanges and to spend gift cards.

Eli said she had expected even larger crowds.

"Right now it’s actually pretty good," she said.

Honolulu resident Giovanni Seiortino wasn’t blown away by the crowds. He said he thought Ala Moana seemed busier last Dec. 26. "I think people are holding back," said the 64-year-old as he sat on a bench near Sears.

Around noon Tani Kalauko and his girlfriend, Kainoa Kuamoo, were taking a breather on a rock wall near Longs Drugs at Ala Moana.

The two got to the mall around 8 a.m., snagging deals at Old Navy, which was offering 75 percent off some merchandise.

"I saved a lot," said Kuamoo, who bought a scarf and a few sweaters.

Kalauko, of Makiki, said though he had never come out for day-after-Christmas sales, he was skeptical that Monday would garner the kind of boon retailers are hoping for. There were plenty of people in stores, he said, but it didn’t seem that they were buying a lot. "I didn’t see people getting anything," he said.

Hawaii News Now video: Gift cards draw people to stores day after Christmas