Kokua Line
Kokua Line
Question: I received three notices in the last several months demanding that I meet postal requirements regarding delivery of mail to my curbside box by keeping the approach to it clear of a vehicle to permit the carrier to drive up to my mailbox to deposit and collect mail without leaving the vehicle. It requests that I keep both sides of the mailbox clear to allow the carrier to drive ahead rather than back up the vehicle after delivery. I have been able to keep the approach clear, but find it difficult to always leave the exit from it clear. Sorting out those
mail delivery hasslesThe problem occurs with those of us who live on pie-shaped property, such as on a loop or a cul-de-sac, where there is a small frontage and the driveway of neighbors on both sides are very close to one's property. When was this new requirement instituted? I've been at the same address since 1964 and have had this requirement imposed on me only in the last several months of 2001. Is this requirement a national postal policy? It seems to me that the new Pearl City postal chief is imposing requirements that had never existed before.
Answer: There is no new policy, nor a new postmaster at the Pearl City Post Office.
In fact, the policy is for customer service to work with customers to resolve situations such as yours, according to U.S. Postal Service spokeswoman Felice Broglio.
She suggests you call Postmaster Glenn Ono directly to see what can be worked out. (Beginning this year, you can call the 1-800-275-8777 general postal service number and obtain the direct number to your area post office by choosing option 6, she said.)
"We understand the problem of cul-de-sacs," Broglio said. "It is an ongoing problem."
Often, carriers may just park the truck in a safe spot in a cul-de-sac and deliver to all the mailboxes there by foot, she said.
Usually, the only time carriers will take action and not deliver mail is if it's a matter of safety, she said. That could include a thorny hedge growing around the mailbox, in which case the owner would be asked to trim the hedge, or if there is an obstacle the carrier would have to climb over.
Generally, carriers understand there will be times when you can't control who parks next to your mailbox. However, "they may leave a notice if they find it is a chronic problem," Broglio said.
Auwe and Mahalo
I was in Honolulu on Friday, Aug. 3, to attend my nephew's graduation party. I was in a rental car with my cousin and her two children when the car died in the center lane after I stopped for a red light at the corner of Ward and Beretania at 4:30 p.m., during rush hour. I couldn't put on my emergency blinkers, the kids were scared and crying, but traffic kept going past. Finally, I had a chance to get out and open the hood to warn motorists I was in trouble. Then I had to wait because no one would stop to let me cross the street. Finally, I was able to run to the nearby Circle K store, where I explained my emergency and asked to use the phone. But the clerk flat-out told me no. I walked out of the store in disgust, when a young gentleman, Cy Yanagisawa, who was traveling mauka on Ward, turned around and stopped to offer help. He told me I could use his cell phone, but said, "Let's try to get the car out of the way first." Cy was going to push the car himself when two Caucasian gentlemen got off the bus and ran over to help Cy. I regret not getting their names. Auwe, where was the aloha from Honolulu? After talking with Cy, I found out he also was from the Big Island, and he even played football with my son Ross at Hilo High! It took a neighbor island boy who now lives in Honolulu (and who didn't know me) to offer the help I needed. Mahalo to Cy and the two unknown gentlemen for doing a good deed. - Christine Ebanez, Hilo
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