LIHU‘E — The free keiki activities table bristled with activity, Thursday, the day before Christmas Eve at the Kukui Grove Center. “We’re glad to have the Circles of Light return to the Toddler Thursday program,” said Jonell Kaohelaulii, the marketing
LIHU‘E — The free keiki activities table bristled with activity, Thursday, the day before Christmas Eve at the Kukui Grove Center.
“We’re glad to have the Circles of Light return to the Toddler Thursday program,” said Jonell Kaohelaulii, the marketing director at Kukui Grove. “It has been a really good holiday season, so far.”
A spokesperson for Circles of Light said whenever school is out, activity picks up at the keiki activity stations. Public schools closed last Thursday for Winter Break and will resume on Jan. 3.
Adding to the excitement, Showtime Characters, coming off its successful fundraiser of medical expenses for two Kaua‘i girls, offered a special Sesame Street Christmas show, giving shoppers a respite from shopping on the final late night at the mall.
“I’ve been so busy with the show, I haven’t had time to even start my shopping,” said Brenda Biehler of Showtime Characters. “That show Tuesday took a lot out of me, both emotionally and financially. But it went off well with about 500 tickets being sold.”
She said her shopping starts after the Toddler Thursday show.
Kaohelaulii said overall, Kukui Grove has been doing well for this holiday season.
“Traffic is up, there are more people attending the different events and I would guess that should reflect in the sales,” Kaohelaulii said. “It should be up. We’re hopeful.”
She said Debbie Chukas, manager of the Macy’s West, was celebrating her store being named No. 1 in the district.
Chukas said the honor came for the month of November and reflected sales and increases.
“It’s too early to tell about December,” Chukas said in a phone conversation. “But overall, things are looking good. We don’t know how the other stores (Macy’s) are doing and there are still two more days to shop.”
Kaohelaulii said Thursday was the final day the mall would have late-night hours, which started on Dec. 16, as some of the bigger stores went beyond the 9 p.m. closing.
Today, the mall will have hours from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., and this year, Kaohelaulii said there will be stores who will open on Christmas Day.
Blockbuster Video will have noon to 6 p.m. hours, L&L will be open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Long’s Drugstore will be open 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Starbucks Coffee will be open 6 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the Big Kmart will be open 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., Kaohelauli‘i said.
“On December 26, we will have great bargains for shoppers wanting to exchange merchandise and redeem gift cards,” Kaohelaulii said. “Macy’s West, Deja Vu and some of the other big stores will have after-Christmas sales, and the mall has asked tenants to participate in the In-and-Out, a sidewalk and in-store special, through January 2.”
Kaohelaulii said New Year’s Day is not a mall holiday and as such, stores will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
