Maybe Santa did a lot of shopping at CS Wo last year.

What else could explain the old sofas sagging sadly along the roadsides of O'ahu neighborhoods?

Were new couches the hot gift this Christmas?

Did too many people serve pink party punch in tippy glasses? Or were people planning to sit out and light sparklers for New Year's?

Along Halema'uma'u and Hawai'i Loa roads in East Honolulu, three old sofas and one love seat appeared in the past week. On 16th Avenue in Kaimuki, there are two sofas, one love seat and numerous chairs hugging the curb.

There are quite a few sofas along the main road in Waimanalo, but those might be part of the ongoing pa'ina equipment. Hard to tell.

And there are a couple of old toilets on Kalaniana'ole, but that's probably a different category.

In 'Aina Haina, there are several refrigerators, one washer, one mini-fridge and multiple assorted fans along the curb near Kiholo.

On Wilhelmina Rise, it's all about televisions. There are big ones and little ones sitting in the narrow grass boulevard by the sidewalk, balanced atop other discarded furniture, leaning against the trash cans. There's even one of those old-fashioned consoles that comes with its own legs. Pau. Aloha.

In Kahala, there's nothing on the side of the road for bulky-item pick up. Not a thing. But as you get closer to the Kaimuki border, there are piles of chairs, stacks of wood, a couple of buss-up dressers and an old mattress.

What's up with that?

To add to the mystery, bulky-item pickup is pau for those neighborhoods.

Wilhelmina Rise is the third Wednesday of each month, which was last week. 'Aina Haina area is the fourth Monday of each month. Niu Valley, Kuli'ou'ou, and Haha'ione Valley get the fourth Wednesday of each month. There are no more third or fourth Wednesdays or Mondays for weeks.

Perhaps, like the queue of cars outside McKinley Car Wash, the discarded household pieces are indicative of the Japanese New Year tradition of starting off clean and fresh. Clean car. Clean sofa. Out with the old. Good start for the new year.

In any case, the good news is that the bounty of cast-off couches were being offered a second chance. A Salvation Army truck was spotted slowly rolling through East Honolulu, the folks inside looking tired but happy after picking up yet another sidewalk sofa.

Lee Cataluna's column runs Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Reach her at 535-8172 or lcataluna@honoluluadvertiser.com.