Is no holiday sacred anymore? It used to be that Thanksgiving, like Christmas, was one free of commercial interruption. Where, if you hadn’t stocked up on food before noon, you were out of luck, unless you wanted to hit up the nearest gas station convenience store.
Now, with retailers anxious to corner the market on early Christmas shoppers — lest they be left with a glut of holiday stockings and snow globes — your Thanksgiving day may be interrupted by the latest sale at Target.
Where Black Friday sales once began on Friday morning, they’ve crept up to midnight in recent years and are encroaching on Thursday turkey dinner territory, starting as early as 8 p.m. at Sears Pearlridge and Ala Moana, and Toys R Us.
Perhaps with deals spread all over town, the early morning Black Friday melees will be a thing of the past. Even so, door-buster deals tend to bring out the savagery of hunter-gatherers charged with bringing home the spoils of victory.
While senses allowing shoppers to sniff out a good deal may be heightened, Signal 88 Security reminds people not to let their guard down over safety concerns.
We all know friends who have had items lifted out of carts while their backs were turned, and the same holds true for purses and credit cards as thieves take advantage of the crowds and distractions.
Be alert for opportunistic grab-and-run thieves in parking lots and, if stowing purchases in your car before continuing to shop or taking a break from shopping, use common sense in keeping shopping bags out of sight.
Here’s a rundown of who’s open when:
Ala Moana Center
ThanksGetting Day runs from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday. Shoppers who follow @AlaMoanaCenter and #BFHI on Twitter will be eligible for a chance to win one of 10 $25 gift cards and other prizes from 4 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Free valet parking will be available at three locations on Mall Level 2: makai side of Macy’s and LeSportsac, makai side near Sears, and by Nordstorm’s eBar.
Shoppers with receipts (no more than three per store) totaling $500 or more, and dated between Nov. 10 and Dec. 24, can redeem them at the Customer Service Center for a limited-edition Big Santa stocking. Must be 13 or older to participate.
Beginning Saturday, valet service will be available for $6 per car. Drop vehicles off at Mall Level 2, near the Nordstrom eBar, during center hours through Dec. 31. Additional valet parking will be available Dec. 14 to 26 at Mall Level 2 outside Longs Drugs.
Those who purchase three or more Ala Moana Center gift cards in one transaction at the customer service center will receive a gift.
Get insider updates, online exclusives and special perks by following @AlaMoanaCenter on Twitter or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AlaMoanaCenter.
Kahala Mall
The mall will open at 7 a.m. Friday, giving guests the opportunity to shop with savings of up to 70 percent at participating stores.
Shoppers who purchase $150 or more in same-day receipts will receive a $10 Kahala Mall gift certificate. Early birds will also be treated to a selection of breakfast items from Whole Foods Market, accompanied by a complimentary cup of coffee from Starbucks and bottled water from Hawaiian Springs in Center Court, while supplies last. There will be prizes and gift cards given away at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Also, enter to win an international round trip for two on Hawaiian Airlines to Auckland, New Zealand; Brisbane, Australia; or Sapporo Chitose, Japan.
Those who get tired shopping can take a break in lounges provided by Event Essentials. Keiki activities will be available in the lounge area fronting Cinnamon Girl from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Pearlridge Center
The mall kicks off the holiday shopping season with a Thanksgiving night celebration outside Toys R Us beginning at 7 p.m. today, with family-friendly activities, games, prizes and music, and the opportunity to shop from 8 p.m. Sears will also open at 8 p.m.
The rest of the mall will be closed, opening at 6 a.m. Friday, although some stores will open earlier, as follows:
Midnight: Aeropostale, American Eagle, Bath & Body Works, Blue Hawaii Surf, Charlotte Russe, The Children’s Place, Claire’s, Diamond One, Ecko Unlimited, Forever 21, Gamestop, Hatsby, Hawaiian Island Creations, Hollister, Icing by Claire’s, Jeans Warehouse, Journeys, Just Pierce It, Macy’s, PacSun, Papaya Clothing, PINK by Victoria’s Secret, Prototype, RC Toys, T&C Surf Designs, Trade Secret, Victoria’s Secret, Wet Seal and Zumiez
4 a.m. Friday: Royal Hawaiian Heritage Jewelry
5 a.m. Friday: Aloha Sunglasses, Bed Bath & Beyond, Nicky Shoe Co., and Sanrio Surprises & Cafe
For a list of store openings outside of center hours, visit PearlridgeOnline.com.
Valet service will be available for $5 at the Pearlridge Uptown main entrance, fronting Pizza Hut, Friday through Sunday, and weekends of Dec. 1 and 2, 8 and 9, 15 and 16, 21 through 24 and the 26th.
Call 488-0981 or visit PearlridgeOnline.com.
Royal Hawaiian Center
Avoid Black Friday crowds by starting your holiday shopping on Thanksgiving. The center will be open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. today for dining and shopping.
Visit www.RoyalHawaiianCenter.com for a list of savings at various merchants.
The first hour of parking will be free with validation, with a rate of $1 per hour for the next three hours. After four hours, standard rates apply of $6 per hour.
Call 922-2299. Get updates by following @RoyalHwnCtr on Twitter.
Target
Target stores will open at 9 p.m. today. Some of the top deals include:
» Nikon L310 digital camera, $99.99.
» Nook Simple Touch e-reader, $49.
» Beats headphones, $179.99.
Additional door-busters will begin 4 a.m. Friday, and Target REDcard holders will have early access to select Black Friday items at Target.com. The deals include:
» Samsung 50-inch 1080p LED HDTV, $699.
» Leapfrog Explorer Software, $15.
» Sony PS3 250MB game system, $199.99 (includes console, two games and a wireless controller).
Shoppers who spend $50 or more on apparel, accessories or home products until noon Friday will earn a $10 Target gift card to use toward a future purchase.
Ward Centers
Black Friday shoppers can shop from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, when there will be storewide and select-merchandise discounts at Downtown Gifthings, Eden in Love, Island Olive Oil Co., MisFortune Hawai‘i, The Ultimate Foot Store and others, and "free gift with purchase" deals at Nordstrom Rack and T&C Surf. A complete list of store offers is available at www.wardcenters.com/events.
Ward Centers is also participating in American Express’ annual Small Business Saturday event, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday.
Small Business Saturday was started as a way to help small businesses gain exposure in the midst of the busiest shopping weekend of the year. American Express cardholders will have the opportunity to receive a $25 statement credit when they enroll their eligible American Express card and use it to spend $25 or more in a single in-store transaction at a qualifying small business on Saturday.
To register your American Express credit card, visit www.shopsmall.com.
A few examples of Small Business Saturday offers at Ward Centers include:
» Free gift with purchase at Big Island Delights, Island Soap & Candle Works, Local Fever, MisFortune Hawai‘i and more.
» Discounts of 10 percent to 50 percent or more on select items at Big City Diner, Chelsea, Eden in Love, Gallery at Ward Centre, Ocean Queen, Sedona, The Pet Corner and more.
» "Buy one, get one" offers at As Seen on TV Store, Calista, Cottage by the Sea, The Ultimate Foot Store and more.
Windward Mall
The mall will be opening at 6 a.m. Friday, with Sears opening at 8 p.m. today and a handful of stores opening at midnight today.
Businesses opening at midnight are Aeropostale, Charlotte Russe, The Children’s Place, Cinnabon, Gamestop, Jeans Warehouse, Journeys, Local Motion, Macy’s, No Fear, PacSun, Sindication, SoulTrex, Spencer Gifts, Sports Authority, Toys R Us Express and Wet Seal.
The first 500 shoppers to line up in Center Court at 6 a.m. will receive a holiday coupon bag (one bag per shopper and must be 18 or older) with merchant offers and a chance to win prizes including a trip for two to Las Vegas courtesy of Vacations Hawaii.
Early-bird shoppers will have the opportunity to pick up on great savings and prizes, including a Wii U giveaway on Black Friday. Fill out an entry form at Gamestop, Hot Topic or Radio Shack; one entry per person per store. Entrants must be 18 or older.
Also, starting on Black Friday, shoppers may redeem $100 in same-day mall receipts at customer service and choose from an assortment of free gifts while supplies last, at one gift per person, per day.
For more information, sign up for The Scoop at findthescoop.com.
