For the past decade, Grant Kanoho has been a happy camper.
In a concrete parking lot adjacent to bustling Kamehameha Highway, Kanoho and around 10 friends Monday started their weeklong campout at Best Buy in Aiea, which has become an annual tradition while waiting for the biggest Black Friday door-buster sales of the year.
While the group of campers has remained the same, this year’s goal is a little different. They aren’t looking to buy anything for themselves. Instead, they will be donating the things they buy to the nonprofit Family Programs Hawaii, which supports foster children and families throughout the islands.
Kanoho is calling it “Give Back Friday.”
“Aside from Christmas presents for family and friends, pretty much that’s the focus this year. Not that we don’t need new stuff, but there’s only so much new stuff you need every year. It’s just nice to be able to give something back, especially for people that need stuff during the holidays,” he said of the friends who take shifts throughout the day to keep their place in line. “It makes it more worth it now because we’re doing something that’s bigger than us.”
Their efforts have not gone unnoticed. Kanoho collected $1,000 in donations Tuesday from random people who found out about this year’s mission.
“I didn’t ask for anything. I went to work today, and then a bunch of people in the office came up to me and gave money; my friend just gave me money. A couple of my clients sent checks,” he said. “I was planning to spend money on my own. It’s awesome because now we can actually buy more things.”
A sign outside their makeshift tent fronting the electronics retail store tells passers-by about the foster children in need.
Kaylie Ling, 25, of Pearl City, who is six months pregnant, took the day shift, along with her boyfriend, Brennan Mata, who has been joining Kanoho for the past five years.
“We’re the midday crew. It’s just been something like … a tradition every year. We just come, hang out with everybody, and it’s Christmas (season) so it’s Christmas vibes,” Mata said. “A lot of people that come we don’t see throughout the day because everybody works. When everyone’s here in the evening, it’s a lot of fun. This is the one time a year we get together. It’s kind of like our ‘friendsgiving,’ I guess you could say.”
The group has potlucks, or people will drop off food, especially when Kanoho posts about their whereabouts on social media. They also rotate shifts, going home for dinner, to shower and to put their kids to bed before rejoining the festivities, he said.
“As you get older and your priorities change, the things that were important last year are not necessarily the same every year,” he said. “We don’t do this for the sales. We do it because we like hanging out. It’s just as much a tradition for us as Thanksgiving dinner. To have a broader focus and to have a bigger goal is nice because it gives us purpose.”
Best Buy’s Black Friday sale begins at 5 p.m. Thursday.
BLACK FRIDAY HOURS
Ala Moana Center
Select stores and restaurants will be open on Thanksgiving Day and throughout the night. The mall officially opens at 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Black Friday. Go to alamoanacenter.com.
Kahala Mall
Select stores and restaurants will be open on Thanksgiving. Black Friday door-busters begin at 6 a.m. Go to kahalamallcenter.com.
Windward Mall
Opens on Black Friday 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Go to windwardmall.com.
Pearlridge Center
The mall officially opens at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day until midnight, then reopens on Black Friday at 6 a.m. Individual stores and restaurants with exterior entrances might remain open overnight.
Ka Makana Ali’i
Opens 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Black Friday. Go to kamakanaalii.com.
Waikele Premium Outlets
Opens 9 a.m. on Thanksgiving to 11 p.m. on Black Friday. Go to premiumoutlets.com/outlet/waikele.
Best Buy
Opens 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. Thursday, then reopens 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Black Friday. Go to bestbuy.com.
Walmart
Online sales start today at 5 p.m. Door-buster deals start at 6 p.m. Thursday. Go to walmart.com.
Target
Doors open 5 p.m. Thursday to 1 a.m. Friday, then reopen at 7 a.m. Go to target.com.
