Auntie’s trouble getting mail might not qualify as hardship

Question: What can be done legally to move the curbside mailbox closer to the home of a senior so they can retrieve their daily mail? On my most recent visit to my aunt’s home, I noticed how difficult it is. My auntie is in her mid-80s and lives in Aiea. To retrieve the mail she must traverse down the driveway (slight slope) to the curbside and then up a slight slope to the mailbox. The process is reversed going back to the house (downhill, then uphill).

Answer: Your auntie may ask in writing for closer delivery, but the request would be approved only if the current location imposes an “extreme physical hardship” on her, said Duke Gonzales, a spokesman for the U.S. Postal Service in Honolulu. Here is his full response:

“Here’s what our postal policy says: Changes in the type of delivery authorized for a delivery point may be considered if service by existing methods imposes an extreme physical hardship on the customer. The key here is the phrase ‘extreme physical hardship.’ A customer in such a situation can send a written request for a change in delivery mode based on hardship to the postmaster of their local delivery office.

“The decision whether or not to grant the request is made by the postmaster after evaluating the specific details of each individual case. In cases in which the hardship request is approved, the request must be submitted and re-approved annually.

“Many customers in situations described by your reader prefer to get a PO Box for their elderly relatives. This permits anyone with a key to check the mail and deliver it to their relative at their convenience.”

In a follow-up email, you said that your auntie lives in Aiea. Mail deliveries in Aiea’s 96701 ZIP code are managed by the Pearl City postmaster, Gonzales said. So her written request should be mailed to Postmaster, Pearl City Post Office, 950 Kamehameha Highway, Pearl City, HI 96782.

Gonzales did not know the number of hardship delivery requests received or approved on Oahu each year, but estimated “that both numbers are very small.”

Q: When will Hawaii income tax booklets and forms be available at the libraries?

A: They should be available already, except on Molokai and Lanai.

Hawaii income tax forms N-11 and instruction booklets were mailed to public libraries in early January, said Deborah Kwan, spokeswoman for the state Department of Taxation. Mallory Fujitani, a spokeswoman for the Hawaii State Public Library System, confirmed that they were received everywhere but on Lanai and Molokai; forms have been requested for those facilities.

It could be that your neighborhood branch didn’t immediately display the tax forms it received. “If taxpayers go to a library and don’t see them, please ask staff,” Fujitani said.

Auwe

People, when you are making a turn with yours cars, please turn on your turn signals! Your cars have them for a reason! Turn on your signals at least half a block before the turn and not while you’re actually doing your turn! — Bob

Mahalo

Mahalo to a very kind gentleman in a Tacoma truck who assisted a distressed senior “lost in Kalihi” (while driving) looking for Likelike Highway to drive to Kaneohe. On Saturday morning I was at a service station seeking directions when the gentleman must have overheard my conversation with the station attendant. He came over and immediately offered to lead the way. “Follow me,” he said. I was not sure whether he was headed for Kaneohe or if he was to just lead me to Likelike Highway. He drove, with me following, all the way (via Likelike Highway) to Kaneohe, where I reached an appointment on time! I hope that he sees this note so that he knows how much I appreciate his kindness. — Grateful senior

Write to Kokua Line at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.