Christmas trees arrive healthy, plump

By Dan Nakaso
Advertiser Staff Writer

Stallioa Conrad, left, and Kala Lafalot, far right, unloaded a Noble fir from a cargo container at the Christmas Hawai'i lot on Kapi'olani Boulevard yesterday. Jeff Widener • The Honolulu Advertiser

But the plumped-up trees from a good season also means that growers haven't been able to squeeze as many into cargo containers, which could mean fewer choices.

Daiei's four stores received their first trees of the season Saturday and Neal Arisumi found each cargo container full of greenery — but down about 70 trees each.

"I'm short because the trees are nicer and fuller," said Arisumi, Daiei store renovations project manager who buys the trees for the retailer.

The last few weeks of the growing season had been dry in the Pacific Northwest before the rains came seven days before harvest and ensured a well-watered crop.

"They're perfect," said Kim Canamore, owner and operator of Canamore Tree Farms in Oregon City, Ore.

Hawai'i's two major shipping companies said yesterday that despite the backlog following last month's West Coast dock shutdown, the Islands' usual shipments of trees are on time.

The first big load began selling Saturday at some sites. The last shipment arrives early next month. Still, prices may be a challenge: Some retailers said costs will be the same as last year, but others say the best Noble firs may cost $10 more.

Richard Tajiri said he plans to keep the average $89 price for Noble firs at his Christmas Hawai'i lot the same as last year, despite higher wholesale prices.

Tajiri, who is bringing in 5,000 high-end trees as he's done for the past 26 years, said he's already gotten 20 to 25 advance orders and expects to sell out.

"People always want trees," he said. "Christmas is Christmas."