HILO — East Hawaii residents might have a harder time finding a Christmas tree this year after shipments to one major retailer were sent back to the mainland.
About 1,200 trees destined for KTA Super Stores failed to pass screening for invasive species, such as slugs that seek shelter in the evergreens, said Janelle Saneishi, state Department of Agriculture spokeswoman.
Chris Behle, front-end supervisor for KTA Super Stores’ Puainako location, said the trees were sent back to the Pacific Northwest, leaving customers disappointed.
“This year was a horror story,” he said.
Saneishi said the trees can be cleaned after arriving in Honolulu but that’s typically the shipper’s responsibility rather than those receiving them.
It wasn’t immediately clear if the shipper declined to pay for that service.
Behle said this was the first time in 21 years that KTA had a shipment returned, and the store has been offering apologies to customers.
“For years and years, this happened to our competitors,” he said, “and I knew the wave was going to turn on us this year. And it did with a vengeance.”
Behle said KTA has offered to flock trees from other retailers. That service ended this week.
Saneishi said KTA’s shipment has been the only one that was returned this year.
With KTA out of the Christmas tree business this year, other retailers say they have been seeing an increase in sales.
“We’re catching all the overflow,” said Ernest Kuba, assistant manager at Home Depot in Hilo.
He said a half-container of trees was sent over from its Kona location to help meet demand.
Several Home Depot customers said they usually go to that store for Christmas trees anyway.
But Trudy Simone of Kurtistown, who was looking at the store’s selection, said she prefers to buy from KTA since it’s locally owned and was disappointed the shipment didn’t arrive.
“It really helps the economy if you buy local,” she said.
Lance Niimi, of the Hilo Y’s Men and Women Service Club, said the decreased competition also helped the organization sell its Christmas tree supply quicker this year. Sales benefit the organization.
“We sold out in less than a week,” he said.
Like KTA, Niimi said their shipment also had some invasive species but they were able to get theirs cleaned and approved for interisland travel.
KTA is not the first Hilo retailer to have its Christmas tree shipment returned to the mainland.
Leslie Hill, Paradise Plants owner, said she lost her shipment last year after slugs were found.
“My customers had been buying from me for 25 years,” she said. “They said, ‘What do you mean you don’t have trees?’”
Instead of risking another disappointment, Hill said the store is selling potted trees they grow on island.
The trees are between 3- and 4-feet tall and come in several different species, she said.
“People seem to love it,” Hill said, adding the trees can be planted in yards after the holidays.
“Why even take the chance of bringing in another invasive species?” she said.
Email Tom Callis at tcallis@hawaiitribune-herald.com.