LIHU‘E — Aside from a doomsday traffic jam at noon in Kapa‘a — which is the norm there — and a few residents who, fearing a giant tsunami, took refugee in Koke‘e, it was mostly business as usual for Kaua‘i
LIHU‘E — Aside from a doomsday traffic jam at noon in Kapa‘a — which is the norm there — and a few residents who, fearing a giant tsunami, took refugee in Koke‘e, it was mostly business as usual for Kaua‘i shoppers Thursday, the day before the last day of the Mayan long count calendar.
While many scholars interpret the end of the Mayan long count calendar, Dec. 21, 2012, as simply the end of a cycle and the beginning of a new one, others think it predicts the end of the world.
Despite all the fuss during the past year building up to today, Kaua‘i residents didn’t seem to bother much with stocking up on supplies, judging by how managers of large retailers and supermarkets on the island described business Thursday.
“I haven’t seen an increase (in foot traffic),” said a worker at Safeway Supermarket in Waipouli, who asked to remain anonymous.
Nearby, at Foodland Waipouli, there was no noticeable increase in business in the supermarket, according to an assistant manager who also asked to remain anonymous.
“It’s nothing out of the ordinary,” she said.
In front of the supermarket, however, the traffic, which is usually bad in the afternoon, was worse than the norm Thursday. But she said the increased traffic could be because of the holidays.
In Foodland Princeville in the North Shore, the store was busier than usual for a week day, according to office clerk Juve Desamito.
“We’re kind of busy right now, but I’m not sure if it’s because of the end of the Mayan calendar,” said Desamito, adding that the store is normally busy on weekends.
An assistant manager at Home Depot in Lihu‘e said there hadn’t been any increase in foot traffic Thursday.
“Honestly, nothing different,” said the manager, who identified himself only as Keoki.
The parking lot at Kukui Grove Center in Lihu‘e was also near capacity. In the mall’s food court, a band played Christmas songs. Throughout the mall, shoppers carried bags with Christmas gifts, and some even stopped for a picture with Santa Claus. A long line formed in Starbucks, with shoppers eager for a holiday treat and cup of Joe.
Jonelle Kaohelauli‘i, marketing manager of Kukui Grove Center, said there were a lot of people “rushing over” to the mall, but it’s hard to tell if the reason is the end of the Mayan calendar, because of all the holiday shopping going on.
“We’ve been having some great holiday shopping done at the mall,” she said. “We even got some last-minute shoppers.”
As far as Dec. 21 being the end of the Mayan calendar, Kaohelauli‘i said she knows people are “definitely aware of it,” but she can’t speak for the shoppers.
“It’s just hard to judge with the holiday shopping going on,” said Kaohelauli‘i, adding that in regards to Longs Drugs and Times Supermarket, the two retailers that sell groceries at the mall, people may be stocking up for the holiday parties.
At Times Supermarket, there was no increase in foot traffic, according to a manager who asked to remain anonymous. The bottled water, however, was selling more than usual, although the manager said it was for a reason other than the end of the Mayan calendar.
“Our water is moving because it’s on sale, not because everybody is worried about tomorrow,” she said.
The fact that there hasn’t been a rush to the stores, similar to what happened prior to Hurricane ‘Iniki in 1992, could mean two things. Either not many on Kaua‘i believe it’s the end of the world, or people may be asking themselves: Who needs supplies if the world is ending anyway?
