Send now to avoid holiday mail crunch
The U.S. Postal Service expects to see millions of pieces of mail at its Honolulu processing center this Christmas season and is encouraging residents to beat the holiday rush by mailing their letters or packages early.
There is "sort of a lull right now," said Duke Gonzales, spokesman for the U.S. Postal Service. "We decided to take advantage of it by getting people to starting thinking about ... making their shipping plans."
With a projected 3.3 million packages to be processed at the Honolulu station on Dec. 18, the postal service is extending hours at 27 post offices around the state and promoting alternatives to mailing items at the post office.
"We really try to encourage people to not come into the post office at all and taking care of some of the postal services that are available online," Gonzales said.
Mailers can visit the U.S. Postal Service Web site at www.usps.com or call the toll-free number 800-ASK-USPS and have their packages arranged for pickup at their residence. Users can also print out labels and pay for their packages online.
People using Automatic Postal Centers, self-service postal machines, at most of the 18 post offices around the state can pay for and print out labels 24 hours a day.
"They can go after hours at the time that's convenient to them," Gonzales said. "It's really a one-stop thing for most of the common transactions that get done at the counters."
The Postal Service is also reminding those who want to send something to a military address that next Friday is the suggested deadline for mail to reach a military address by Christmas.
"That date is coming up just next week," Gonzales said. "The best way to avoid lines is to get the shipping done early."
Extended post office hours
Twenty-seven post offices in Hawaii will have extended hours beginning Dec. 9.
The Ala Moana and Airport post offices will open on two Sundays, Dec. 10 and 17.
To see the extended hours of the individual offices, visit the U.S. Postal Service Web site at www.usps.com and click on "locate a post office."
Bypass long lines with automation
Automated Postal Centers at 18 post offices allow customers to purchase stamps, print labels and pay for postage and other common transactions. APCs, located outside or in the service lobbies of the post offices, are available at most locations 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The 18 post offices with an APC are Aina Haina, Airport, Ala Moana, Downtown, Hawaii Kai, Hilo Main Office, Kailua, Kailua-Kona, Kaneohe, Kihei, Lahaina, Makiki, Mililani, Moiliili, Waialae-Kahala, Waikiki, Wailuku and Waipahu.