A show of patriotism

By Kaui Philpotts
Advertiser Staff Writer

Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser

At Nordstrom Rack on Auahi Street, the array of items for holiday partying include ceramic chip-and-dip sets in patriotic colors, large outdoor candles, wicker paper-plate holders, storage and file boxes, picture frames, boxed stationery, and address and recipe books.

"These things are definitely selling more rapidly," said Brian Tatsumura, manager of the store. He said he thinks it's because the items are unusual and an inexpensive way to get into the season. "We are seeing a lot of fun things" this year, he said.

A visit this week to Ben Franklin Crafts at Market City turned up flags in all sizes attached to sticks, ready to be waved, attached to cars and stuck into flower pots. There were pins and ribbons, red, white and blue goody bags for favors, boxes in the shape of stars, and metal Uncle Sam table decorations.

Store manager Debbie West said she thinks there is more interest than usual this year, pointing to new items such as patriotic license plate frames, flag T-shirts and scrapbooks.

At Kmart in Iwilei, the display of items for the Fourth already was dwindling. Here, along with the flag-inspired paper plates, cups, napkins and flatware, was a large American flag made of tiny lights set into a mesh net for the front of the house. In the sporting goods department, you could buy a patriotic camp chair. In women's apparel, you could pick up a terrycloth flag-motif backpack for the beach.

On Nimitz Highway, Flora Dec Sales Inc.'s designer/buyer, LiSa Kaneshiro, says she saw a definite demand for ribbons and flags right after the September tragedy, but doesn't think interest is as strong now. However, she said, she hopes customer interest in displaying the nation's colors will become as strong here as she believes it is on the Mainland.