It seems just about every Christmas retailers bring in either too many or too few Christmas trees.
It looks like this year it's a case of "too few" as many sellers have already run out of trees.
You may recall five years ago when we had a Christmas tree shortage.
Well, that year, Christmas trees sold out around this time.
But for those of you who still want a real tree, you're not out of luck just yet.
'Twas two weeks before Christmas and what an unusual sight to see.
"No trees, all sold out everybody bought 'em."
"Home Depot and City Mill is out."
"We went to City Mill, and Don Quijote."
"This is exceptionally early to be out in Hawaii," said Christmas tree seller Richard Tajiri.
About a week earlier than usual for Richard Tajiri.
He sold out yesterday, with the few remaining trees reserved for pre-orders.
State Agriculture officials say 207 shipping containers of Christmas trees were brought into the islands this year.
"I think the numbers last year was higher. Maybe 250 containers, previous to that close to 300 containers," said Domingo Cravalho, State Agriculture Dept.
And this year, seven containers were returned to the mainland after inspectors found slugs and yellow jackets.
"I was worried there was no more trees. I was panicked ha ha," said Shallon Cole of Mililani.
But the Coles discovered a place with lots of Christmas trees.
"We have a couple hundred left," said Scott Ryan, Habilitat Lot Manager.
Habilitat set up its Christmas tree lot near the the Falls of Clyde and Aloha Tower.
The group also has a lot next to Ice Palace at Stadium Mall, as well as smaller stands at Walgreens in Kaneohe, and next to McKenna's in Kailua, open from 8am to 9pm.
"We keep them all in refrigerated containers so they stayed at 36 degrees, so they're still really fresh," said Ryan.
The group has been selling these Pacific Northwest evergreens for the past 35 years.
"For the 6-7 foots they're $98, for the Frasier, Grand and Noble, and we have bigger trees and smaller trees," said Ryan.
And all of the proceeds benefit Habilitat -- a drug and alcohol treatment program.
"We're excited we've been driving all over looking. So we're happy. Well thank you for supporting Habilitat."
Another option is to pick your own locally grown Norfolk pine tree from Helemano Farms in Wahiawa.
But they don't have the pine smell like the ones from the mainland.
