Lihue Post Office will remain open after longtime efforts to consolidate operations

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PHOTO COURTESY OF THE HISTORIC HAWAII FOUNDATION

Lihue Post Office.

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COURTESY LIHUE BUSINESS ASSOCIATION

The U.S. Postal Service has decided to keep open a historic post office on Kauai after receiving an outpouring of community support. The Lihue Post Office received more than 1,000 postcards and 100 coconuts mailed in support of its remaining open.

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A historic post office on Kauai that the U.S. Postal Service slated to shut down will remain open, according to a USPS spokesman.

USPS recently notified Hawaii’s congressional leaders, Kauai County Mayor Derek Kawakami and community organizations that supported the Lihue Post Office of its decision.

“After a thorough review of our options, we decided it would be in the best interest of our customers and the Postal Service not to relocate our retail services from our Rice Street facility,” the Postal Service said in an emailed statement.

In December 2017, USPS announced it would close the Rice Street location to consolidate retail and delivery operations at its carrier annex facility at 3230 Kapule Highway next to the Lihue Airport. The decision came despite more than 1,000 postcards and 100 coconuts sent to the Postal Service in support of keeping the post office at its existing location.

A year later, U.S. Postal Service spokesman Duke Gonzales said USPS headquarters notified Hawaii’s congressional leaders, the mayor’s office and organizations on Dec. 28 that the Lihue Post Office will remain open at the Rice Street location.

Kawakami said he is thankful for the USPS re-evaluating the closure. “I’m very happy and pleased that we had such a swell of support for our post office, our historic post office.”

He thanked residents, Gov. David Ige, Hawaii’s congressional delegation and area lawmakers for their support, especially “the people of Kauai who saw the value of maintaining our sense of place and rural character.”

The Lihue postmaster posted a notice at the Rice Street location on Dec. 28 informing customers of the decision.

Kiersten Faulkner, executive director of the Historic Hawaii Foundation, said the community was committed to saving the post office. The nonprofit organization had joined the Lihue Business Association and the National Trust for Historic Preservation in support of the Rice Street location.

Faulkner said they recently received a letter from USPS of its decision to continue operations there.

“I was just thrilled to see it and really excited to see this outcome,” she said Wednesday, adding that they applaud USPS for listening and meeting the needs of the community.

The Lihue Post Office is listed in both the national and state registers of historic places. The structure was built in 1939 during the territorial period and the Great Depression.