Commuters Friday morning passing by the AT&T store in Lihu‘e couldn’t miss the line wrapping around the parking lot and down the sidewalk — this before the doors to were even open for business. Thomas Barnes, waiting since 3 a.m.,
Commuters Friday morning passing by the AT&T store in Lihu‘e couldn’t miss the line wrapping around the parking lot and down the sidewalk — this before the doors to were even open for business.
Thomas Barnes, waiting since 3 a.m., emerged from the AT&T shop a little after 8, happily displaying the iPhone 3G, which debuted nationwide Friday.
Barnes’ early-morning arrival for the faster, cheaper version of the original iPhone secured him the second spot in line and a quick exit once AT&T began accepting customers.
The dozens of people behind him, however, were just getting started. The Lihu‘e store allowed six patrons inside at a time to keep the chaos to a minimum.
Meanwhile, the crowd kept itself busy with cups of coffee, Jamba Juice, the morning paper and folding chairs.
“This is a good place to have to wait for something,” Thomas Grollman said. “I could think of worse places to be.”
Customers were given number tickets to denote their position in the line, which did not dissipate until after lunch, according to AT&T employees. The Kaua‘i turnout was reportedly more for this second iPhone launch than the first.
