Patricia Mulhern was wondering where the dainty Christmas Trees were at the Nimitz Highway Kmart yesterday morning.

There's nothing wrong with 6 to 8 footers, mind you, a tall Douglas or graceful Noble fir, but Mulhern was looking for something small, "because I put it up myself."

Employee Theodore Travers knew where all the elfish Christmas trees had gone.

"Black Friday and Thanksgiving," he said. "All the mini-trees, the ones under 5 feet? They were (he snapped his fingers for emphasis) gone."

So Mulhern, who lives downtown, settled for a $34 Douglas that looked like it might be 6 feet on its tiptoes.

"Every year I say, 'It's the last time,' " she said.

But she gave in again.

"It's the tradition and the smell, and then there's the ornaments that are special, because they're special or were on sale."

Several folks who were shopping for trees mentioned tradition, the scent of the holidays and the Christmas lights, baubles and glitter. And the memories.

"I grew up in Philadelphia," Mulhern said. "Every year we'd go with our dad and pick out a tree. He would always get the ugliest, least expensive one. He would tell us, 'Look this one needs a home, no one wants it.' And we fell for it. We'd say, 'OK, we'll take it home.' It was our Charlie Brown Christmas tree."

Nick and Allie Thomson of Kähala and their 6-year-old daughter, Addie, get a tree "every year, a real tree," Allie said. She also mentioned "presents under the tree."

That made Addie's eyes light up, because not only is the Jolly Old Elf heading to Honolulu, Addie has a loose tooth. What a deal — Santa and the Tooth Fairy both coming for the holidays.

Addie talked about the "Operation" game that would allow her to do simulated surgery, Sponge Bob, Legos and Nintendo's Wii.

The mere mention of Wii had Addie jumping up and down. "You can play stuff on it," she explained.

Nick settled on a $52 Noble fir.

Jordan and Lori Honjiyo of Kaimukí were after a 7-footer at Don Quijote on Kaheka Street, where Lori emphasized tradition.

"No Christmas tree? Absolutely not," she said. "We already gotta do Christmas without snow. So we gotta have a tree."

She wanted a 7-footer with a nice shape, bouncy branches and a top nice enough for "a star that blinks."

She found one.

Like others, Holly Neves, who works at Kula Kaiapuni 'O Anuenue Hawaiian Immersion School in Pälolo Valley, was looking for something small, less shapely and more economical. She said she would save on the tree and have more to spend on presents.

Husband James, and daughter Taviana, 6, aided her pursuit.

Taviana, who was definitely ready for some ho-ho-hoing and the sound of reindeer hooves on the rooftop, was decked out in red reindeer antlers and red and green holly earrings.

For Christmas, she wanted a necklace and high heels to complete her ensemble and "my own plant for my room."

James acknowledged that his little girl had been good, so Christmas wishes would probably be fulfilled.

Another shipment of Christmas trees arrived over the weekend aboard the MV Manoa and a final shipment is due Saturday on the Maui.

So it's time for some Christmas spirit.

Or as Holly Neves, who was born on Christmas Eve, said yesterday: "I'm feeling red-and-silver ballish this year. Have a very, merry, happy Christmas. Aloha."