Holiday shoppers lined up at malls statewide to take advantage of significant sales on the day after Christmas.

“The day after Christmas is often associated purely with exchanges. Really, for retailers it’s the start of the second season, when people are coming into stores to use the gift cards that they received,” said Deborah Sharkey, a Pearlridge Center spokeswoman. “This has been a busy day at Pearlridge Center.”

Children flooded Toys R Us on Monday with their parents to choose their own Christmas presents, Sharkey said.

“There are many customers at Pearlridge today who are still shopping for holiday gifts, but they’re also taking advantage of after-Christmas values for both their loved ones and themselves,” she said.

Ewa Beach resident Holly Mactagone headed to Ala Moana with her mother and 6-year-old daughter, Khloe, to make a few returns and to scoop up deeply discounted merchandise at department stores like Bloomingdale’s and Macy’s.

“I always go the day after Christmas because there’s good sales,” she said. “The mall was pretty crowded. The lines to get into the stores were even crazy. I got some good deals. I’m totally stoked.”

Tanna Dang, owner of the Eden in Love boutique at Ward Warehouse, said she ramped up promotions in the final stretch for holiday sales.

“The response has been phenomenal,” she said. “It’s a fun way to push through inventory. This is a busy week since our shoppers come in with gift certificates and holiday exchanges. Even though Christmas has passed, the boutiques are still bustling.”

The National Retail Federation has forecast November and December sales (excluding autos, gas and restaurants) to grow 3.6 percent to $655.8 billion, with 48 percent of consumers planning to take advantage of after-Christmas sales in store — up from 47 percent last year — and 44 percent planning to shop online, up from 43 percent a year ago.