People, many taking advantage of the day following Thanksgiving being a day off from work, hit the shopping centers early.
A Hawaii Building Maintenance attendant at the Kukui Grove food court reported on Friday that crowds jammed the Target parking lot when the store opened at 6 a.m. after being closed on Thanksgiving.
A book sale, a partnership with nonprofit Kumu’s Cupboard and Osborne Books with Sheila Bradley, started the weekend at The Shops at Kukuiula on Friday. The book sale, featuring a “Double Your Donation” campaign that started on Nov. 26 and continues through Dec. 20, will be in effect when Kumu’s Cupboard, a nonprofit teacher resource center, and Bradley open on Saturday at the Kukui Grove Center.
The signups for YETI merchandise giveaways kept the lines of people along with the opening of new store Salty Stacks, a new concept jewelry store where almost everything is customized after consulting with the jewelry store professionals.
Over at Kukui Grove, the opening of the 2025 edition of Mele Makeke, the arrival of Santa Claus, and shopping center-wide Black Friday and Small Business Saturday drew crowds.
The primary attraction was the opening of Mele Makeke where lines waiting for the opening wrapped around the building, past the Bread and Deli Connection, and tapping the doors of the Kuleana coworking space near The Kauai Bus stop.
Eric Miura of Deja Vu Surf Hawaii, which hosted sidewalk sale tents overflowing with merchandise and shoppers, said there were already 50 or more shoppers inside that paid for early access.
Mele Makeke will be open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays until Christmas with special guest vendors appearing.
Hot on the heels of the Mele Makeke opening, there were no jingle bells as Santa, accompanied by Mrs. Claus and one of his elves, popped up at Santa’s Hale with his magic ring.
Santa will be available for holiday photos from now through Christmas Eve. Exact dates and times can be found on the Kukui Grove website at www.kukuigrovecenter.com.
Pulelehua, a pop-up vendor from Maui and located across from Kauai Bakery, was not open, unfortunately.
But there is always Monday when Kukui Grove hosts the Pau Hana Market in the parking lot located a stone’s throw from Pulelehua.
Source: The Garden Island