HANAMA‘ULU — The fate of the Hanama‘ulu branch Post Office was to be decided by May 15, but no decision has been issued yet. “Things remain on hold,” said Duke Gonzales, Corporate Communications Specialist for the U.S. Postal Service in
HANAMA‘ULU — The fate of the Hanama‘ulu branch Post Office was to be decided by May 15, but no decision has been issued yet.
“Things remain on hold,” said Duke Gonzales, Corporate Communications Specialist for the U.S. Postal Service in Honolulu. “There is no target date.”
The Hanama‘ulu Post Office appeared on a potential closing list released in July 2011. It was marked for closing as early as December, but was put on hold with a May 16 announcement date pending.
The potential closing was the result of a Post Office Expanded Access study to consider retail-replacement options called Village Post Offices.
It would allow businesses to sell stamps and offer flat-rate packaging, but would not offer full-service or post office boxes.
There are currently three expansion locations in the Lihu‘e area. Stamps are available at the Longs Drugs on Kaumuali‘i Highway and the Costco on Nuhou Street. Stamps, packages and mail can be sent at the Puhi community post office on Puhi Road. Stamps and shipping services are available at Hilo Hattie on Kuhio Highway.
The Kapa‘a Safeway will also have stamp services. The Kealia community post office offers stamps, mailing and shipping.
Supporters wanting to keep the Hanama‘ulu Post Office open met with officials last summer and wrote letters during a public comment period to take feedback into consideration.
The closure would leave the Lihu‘e Post Office at 4441 Rice St. as the only full-service station for the 96766 ZIP code.
Some concerns already generated involved parking at the Rice Street location.
The Postal Service POST Plan initiative announced on May 9 encompasses nearly 13,000 small, low-traffic Post Office found primarily in rural areas.
It would preserve these smaller Post Offices but reduce their hours of window service. It would also guarantee greater community participation in determining the particular needs and preferences of a local area.
“The May 9 announcement was focused on the needs of rural America, postal stations and branches that were under consideration for potential consolidation are not a part of that proposal,” said Gonzales.
“As subsidiary offices for nearby Post Offices, stations and branches are organized differently. That said, while they are not part of the plan for rural post offices, any proposals to close these facilities have been placed on hold.”
Going forward, Gonzales said the Postal Service will evaluate how best to incorporate them into long-term plans for effective and efficient retail service.
