The supply of cut Christmas trees has just barely kept up with demand in Hilo this year.
Most locations sold out of trees by Sunday. But new supplies arrived Monday afternoon for a couple of major retailers, so there will be cut trees available for shoppers still looking for their perfect conifer.
Walmart and Home Depot received resupply shipments Monday of cut Christmas trees, store managers said. Artificial trees also are available. Home Depot emphasized that trees are available 7 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Sundays.
Live trees continue to be available for purchase at Paradise Plants, including small tabletop-sized evergreens.
“It’s been very busy. But not necessarily for trees,” said employee Shannan Austin. Rather, folks have been making beelines to the poinsettias and holiday gifts.
Other locations sold out and will not get additional trees. Those include KTA Puainako, which sold out Sunday, a little earlier than a normal year, according to the store’s tree handler, and Hooluana Tree Farm.
The Y’s Men’s and Women’s Club also sold out of trees. The club sells trees as a fundraiser for YMCA services and projects.
“We sold out on Sunday,” said Lance Niimi, who works to organize the annual fundraiser. “Normally we go maybe to Wednesday, Thursday or Friday (of) this week.”
Sales were brusque, in part, because the club had more than 100 trees pre-sold this year, Niimi said.
“It worked out really well,” he said.
Also, the trees were full and bushy, which meant they couldn’t all fit in the normal transport container. That left the club with about 100 trees less than it normally has available.
“They are really nice trees this year. They’re very full,” Niimi said. “I’m sure the customers are very happy.”
Email Jeff Hansel at jhansel@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
