Go early, avoid the weekend, take a list, bring along a healthy dose of patience. And once you're in the parking lot, find the place that's least crowded and walk the rest of the way.

That's the advice shoppers and the experts are giving as the days count down toward the end of the Christmas shopping season.

Caesar Pudiquet, an Army National Guard major, believes in the "commando" technique.

"Just know who is left on your list and look for something," said Pudiquet, 42, of Kapolei, as he took a break at Pearlridge yesterday. "Have an idea of what they need and go directly to that store."

Getting in and getting out quickly might be the best advice, especially as the number of potential holiday shoppers driving around is going up. Tens of thousands of new cars and trucks come into the state every year, even as the total number of parking stalls stays relatively flat.

For some, that means a plan of attack that leaves out weekend shopping, for example.

"Shop only on Mondays through Fridays when everybody's at work or at school," said Joan Ciano, 36, of Kahala, who was at Kahala Mall yesterday.

Retiree Estrella Aki said that on some shopping mornings, she'll be out of the house by 7:30 a.m. if she thinks it's going to be busy. Aki, 77, was at Toys "R" Us Pearlridge bright and early last Friday.

"We came and we went right into the store at 9:30," she said.

Sasha Grant, a University of Hawai'i student, already had several packages by midmorning at Pearlridge yesterday.

"I just want to come here earlier to avoid the morning madness," said Grant, 20, of Manoa.

And then there are those who shop early — as in October.

Wendy Tsutsui, an occupational therapist, said it was her goal to finish by Halloween. Instead, said the 41-year-old Hawai'i Kai resident, "I started in October and finished by Thanksgiving, for the most part."

Tsutsui, an acknowledged organized person, spent the day relaxing at Kahala Mall.

The advice of mall managers tracked that of their customers.

Fred Paine, Pearlridge general manager, predicted that the parking lots will get even more full as the week goes by.

"I think this weekend is just going to be packed with people, because if they're like me, they'll wait until the last minute," he said.

Windward Mall general manager Jonathan Kim agreed.

"Once school lets out, the mall will be more busy, not particularly because the kids drive to the mall but because the parents take off during the holidays," Kim said.

Matthew Derby, public relations and tourism director for Ala Moana Center, said the state's largest mall once again is offering valet parking for $5. The service is on the mall level, mauka side, near Gap.

Not to be outdone on the shopper efficiency front, Kahala Mall is offering its customers free gift-wrapping for items purchased the same day at the mall, said Kelly Kauinana, mall marketing manager. The booth is near the Banana Republic outlet.

Retail consultant Stephany Sofos said shopping outlets everywhere have been extremely busy this season.

"No (retailers) have been complaining to me, and everywhere I go, it's crowded," Sofos said, who was doing her own shopping at Costco Iwilei when she took a call from The Advertiser. "And all times of the night and day, it's been crowded."

Parking lots have not been completely jammed as in years past, at least not yet, because shoppers are seeing a pretty good mix of retail options available to them.

"There's an abundance of choice, there's a lot of stuff around here," she said.

Dallas Carter, the food and beverage manager at Royal Kunia Shopping Center, does not normally enjoy shopping. But one day out of the year since his daughter was 8 or 9, the 48-year-old Mililani man has taken his daughter on a Christmas shopping spree.

The daughter is now 21 and a UH student. Sitting on a bench at Pearlridge with shopping bags around him yesterday, he was oblivious to the bustle around him.

"I just let her buy whatever she wants," Carter said, adding that she doesn't take advantage of the privilege.

"We come early, get parking, go get some breakfast and spend most of the day together," he said. "I just hang out with my little girl, who's gotten big."

Reach Gordon Y.K. Pang at gpang@honoluluadvertiser.com.