Community blasts USPS decision to close Lihue office

The U.S. Postal Service is under criticism for giving the Kauai community “false hope” that it would prevail in its appeal to save the historic Lihue Post Office.

“It’s a very sad situation to have something so historical closing after all these years,” said state Rep. James Tokioka (D, Wailua-Hana­maulu-­Lihue), who, along with hundreds of community members and officials had called on the Postal Service to continue operating out of the building in the heart of old-town Lihue.

Tokioka said he’s disappointed in USPS managers who met with the community earlier this year. “In my opinion, they gave people on Kauai a false hope that if they came out that we could possibly save the post office from closing.”

Despite hundreds of postcards and letters — and more than 100 coconuts sent to the Postal Service in support of remaining at the Rice Street location — it was announced Friday that USPS would proceed with the move to its carrier annex facility at 3230 Kapule Highway next to Lihue Airport.

“The main reason for this relocation is to improve our operational efficiency,” said Duke Gonzales, U.S. Postal Service spokesman. “It will allow the Lihue Post Office to consolidate its delivery and retail operations, which are currently split between the two facilities.

“Increasing our efficiency will help decrease the financial burdens facing our organization,” Gonzales said Monday in a written statement.

When the Lihue Post Office will close hasn’t been determined.

Gonzales said a buyer for the historic building will be sought, and construction work is needed to transform the annex to a multipurpose facility.

The Postal Service’s announcement Friday said it had “carefully considered” concerns about the relocation raised at two meetings held in Lihue — the first in February and the other in October. USPS said it also took into consideration comments submitted before and after the meetings.

“In my opinion, they knew all along they were going to close it,” Tokioka said.

Gonzales apologized Monday for any confusion concerning the intent of the meetings. In announcements, he said, the public meetings were described as “informational meetings” to notify attendees of the relocation proposal. “The meetings were not intended to be public hearings.”

The Historic Hawai‘i Foundation earlier this year joined with the Lihue Business Association and National Trust for Historic Preservation in an effort to save the Lihue Post Office. Supporters mailed about 850 postcards and 115 coconuts to the U.S. Postal Service in San Francisco.

Gov. David Ige, Kauai Mayor Bernard Carvalho, congressional leaders and area lawmakers also expressed support.

State Sen. Ron Kouchi (D, Kauai-Niihau) said he thinks the decision to close the historic post office was “predetermined” before the first meeting in February. Kouchi added he’s disappointed that concerns from the people of Kauai went unheard.

Kiersten Faulkner, executive director of the Historic Hawai‘i Foundation, said she questioned the Postal Service’s sincerity.

“It’s rather shocking that they disregarded the wishes of the community,” she said last week.

“It’s an integral part of life in Lihue,” Faulkner said of the post office. “It’s a gathering place. It’s the civic heart of Rice Street along with the civic center.”

Built in 1939, the Lihue Post Office is listed in both the national and state registers of historic places. “It’s a really charming building,” Faulkner said, adding the structure was built during the territorial period and during the Great Depression.

In a written statement, Carvalho said, “We are disappointed with the postal service’s decision to close the Lihue post office. We believe that it is premature and we will make sure that all the proper input and processes were considered and followed before a decision was made.”