Get those holiday packages in the mail
Advertiser Staff
Wrapping up your Christmas shopping? The U.S. Postal Service is setting the first round of suggested dates for delivering holiday letters, cards and packages to the post office for next week.
Here are the suggested dates for mailing items from Hawai'i to give them the best chance of reaching their destinations by Christmas.
International destinations (except Africa and Central America) and military APOs and FPOs: First-class and priority mail, Tuesday; express mail, Dec. 15. Express mail headed to Africa and Central America should be mailed by Thursday.
American Sämoa: First-class and priority mail, Thursday; express mail, Dec. 17.
Guam and Saipan: First-class and priority mail, Dec. 15; express mail, Dec. 17.
United States Mainland: First-class and priority mail, Dec. 17, express mail, Dec. 19.
Hawai'i: First-class and priority mail must be postmarked by Dec. 22; express mail, Dec. 23.
Chances are good that letters and packages sent shortly after the suggested dates will make it to their destinations before Christmas, the USPS notes. Factors such as mailing volumes and weather determine whether deliveries can be made early or on time.
Starting Dec. 12, several post offices across the state will extend their hours of operation to accommodate holiday mail volume. Two will be open on Sunday, Dec. 13 — Ala Moana, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Airport, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Customers may call 800-ASK-USPS (800-275-8777) or go to USPS.com and click on "Locate a Post Office" to find specific hours of operation of individual offices.
Also, several offices offer self-service Automated Postal Centers, which allow customers to purchase stamps and pay for postage for packages without standing in line to see a clerk. The stations are located outside or in the service lobbies and are accessible at any hour.
The Postal Service reports that it expects to deliver 16.6 billion pieces of mail between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year, with Dec. 14 targeted as the busiest day. The busiest delivery day in Hawai'i is projected to be Dec. 21.
