Posted on: Thursday, December 16, 2004

Christmas tree via UPS also an option

Advertiser Staff

Some Hawai'i residents who haven't found a Christmas tree here are spending more than $200 to have them delivered to their homes from the Mainland.

Silver Mountain Christmas Tree Farm in Oregon received nearly 20 orders from Hawai'i for trees in the past few days, said Jim Heater, a co-owner of the business. Yesterday nine people from Hawai'i ordered trees, he said.

The 6- to 7-foot Noble firs, stand included, can be delivered to Hawai'i homes on second-day air via UPS, but at a steep price: $215.

"The freight is what hurts you," Heater said.

Residents have been scrambling for trees in recent days after most stores and tree lots sold out last weekend.

Getting a real tree is so important to Eduardo Hernandez that he is spending the extra money to have one mailed to his Maunalani Heights home.

"You can't beat the smell of a real tree," he said via e-mail. "For my partner Steve and I, who've hardly done any gift shopping yet, we're going to consider the tree to be a major gift for our family. So, even though there won't be so many things under it, just having the tree will make for a very special Christmas."

For more details, visit www.silvermtnchristmastrees.com or call Silver Mountain Christmas Tree Farm at (800) 952-3905.

Christmas tree vendor Mele Turner is also airfreighting up to 100 Douglas and Noble firs here to sell Saturday at his Forest Products lot at Market City Shopping Center. The phone number is 389-9031 or 389-9047.