As a veteran post-holiday shopper, Darrah Kelly has a time-tested strategy for making the most of the hours she spends at the mall in search of bargains: She leaves her husband and two kids at home.

"It's quicker that way," Kelly, 39, said yesterday while browsing the racks at Cinnamon Girl at Ala Moana Center, the state's largest shopping center. "I can be more efficient."

Kelly joined the throngs of shoppers who hit stores as early as 6 a.m. looking for after-Christmas deals, returning merchandise or spending gift certificates they received the day before.

The crowds weren't as large as some retailers expected by mid-morning, but both shoppers and merchants said the holiday season, which officially kicked off the day after Thanksgiving, had been a good one.

"It's just unbelievable," said Fred Paine, general manager of Pearlridge Center, the state's second-largest shopping center.

Going into the holiday season, Pearlridge was expecting a 7 percent to 8 percent jump in sales from last year, which was one of the best in the mall's history, Paine said. But anecdotal evidence suggests the increase may be even better, with some merchants already reporting their best December ever, Paine said.

One good indicator: an increase in kiddie traffic aboard Pearlridge's holiday train. Traffic was up more than 12 percent from last year, Paine said.

At Ala Moana, many merchants also had much to smile about as holiday sales there were expected to be 5 percent to 7 percent over 2004's holiday season, according to Sharon James, regional vice president of General Growth Hawaii, which owns Ala Moana Center.

While sales revenue in October seemed to slow because of the buying funk many consumers were in because of Hurricane Katrina, high gas prices and other factors, that changed as the holidays approached, and people increasingly were more willing to open their wallets or get out their credit cards, retailers said.

"They've really come out of it," James said. "People really seem to be splurging."

For most shoppers interviewed yesterday, bargain-hunting was the key. They said the after-Christmas discounts were enough to overcome their concerns about scarce parking and jammed store aisles, none of which they found as they arrived by mid-morning.

"I thought it would be crowded," said Jonathan Sing, 42, of Kalihi. "But I can actually walk through the aisles."

Sing was with his aunt, Kina'u Baker, also of Kalihi, searching for discounted merchandise at Best Buy in Iwilei. They had a basketful of items destined for Halau Ku Mana, the Manoa public charter school where Baker is administrator.

Best Buy, the national electronics retailer that opened its first two stores on O'ahu this year, set up extra cashier and customer service stations at its Iwilei store just in case, but they weren't needed as of mid-morning.

"It's not all the craziness, which is kind of nice," said Mitch Vierra, computers manager at the Iwilei store. "It's been a constant stream" of customers.

The hottest seller there? Microsoft's new Xbox 360 game console. Three shipments totaling just over 100 consoles sold out before Christmas, Vierra said.

Noting the uncrowded aisles and lack of lines for returning merchandise, Sing said, "I guess everybody's happy with their presents this year."

Jon Kawata, general manager of Sears at Ala Moana, said a lot of people were using their gift cards yesterday, purchasing items they really wanted but didn't get for Christmas. Kawata said overall sales for the holiday season were about the same as last year.

At a nearby aisle, Kelly Ota, 18, of 'Aiea and Carole Ng, 46, of Moanalua were carrying discounted apparel.

"I just came for the sales," said Ota, who is attending college in Washington state.

At KB Toys in Ala Moana, manager Alena Gamiao said she was surprised by the lack of crowds yesterday. "This is totally not what I'm used to."

Still, the store, the company's best performer in terms of average sales during the year, has had a good holiday season, with sales up 11.5 percent — better than projected, according to Gamiao. Even though foot traffic is down compared with last year, customers are spending an average of $5 more per person, she said.

As Gamiao tended to her duties, Jeff Wong, 59, of Hawai'i Kai, and his wife, Patricia Wong, were browsing the toy aisle with their grandson, Shaymus Wong, 6. The Wongs had dropped their daughter off at the airport and stopped at Ala Moana on the way home.

Jeff Wong had his own strategy for dealing with the hustle and bustle of the early-morning shopping scene. While his wife shopped, Wong and his grandson went to a nearby hotel and had breakfast.

Reach Rob Perez at rperez@honoluluadvertiser.com.