U.S. Postal Service officials have released a preliminary list of 10 post offices and branches in Honolulu that will be considered for possible closure in a continuing effort to stave off mounting losses.

The list includes large branches in 'Aina Haina, Kaimuki, Kapalama, Makiki, Mo'ili'ili and Wai'alae-Kahala. Also making the list are smaller stations at Fort Shafter, Tripler Army Medical Center, and money order offices at Pearl Harbor and Pacific Fleet headquarters in Makalapa.

Duke Gonzales, Postal Service spokesman in Hawai'i, emphasized yesterday that this is "the preliminary, preliminary list" and that a short list is expected to be released next week. After that, he said, the Postal Service will accept public comments and do a more in-depth study before coming to a final decision.

No branches will be closed before Oct. 1, Gonzales said, and no employees are expected to be laid off as a result of a branch closure. He would not say how many offices are expected to be closed.

"This was sort of the starting point and by no means are we planning to close and consolidate all of those facilities," he said.

Postal officials looked at facilities in metropolitan Honolulu only when coming up with the list. Neighbor Island and rural O'ahu postal offices were not considered for consolidation or closure, Gonzales said.

Before coming out with the preliminary list, officials considered a branch's proximity to other postal facilities, the impact a closure would have on employees and customers, and lease arrangements with landowners. Gonzales said these criteria also will be used to come up with the final list.

IN KAHALA

At the Wai'alae-Kahala post office yesterday, customers' reactions were mixed on the prospect that their neighborhood branch might be closed.

Willie Marshall, a nursing instructor at the University of Hawai'i, said the federal government should come to the aid of the USPS, which receives no taxpayer funds to operate.

"I feel very strongly that all of the post offices in Hawai'i should remain open and, if necessary, the government, which has bailed out insurance companies and corporations and banks, should provide funding to help keep all of the post offices in Hawai'i open," Marshall said. "We need them desperately. We're a growing population."

Peter Webb, a teacher at 'Iolani School, agreed that the Wai'alae-Kahala branch should be kept open.

"It serves a very large region," he said. "I'm kind of mystified as to why they might close it down."

But several people said they understood why the Postal Service needs to find ways to cut costs.

Small-business owner Andy Mertz said everyone, including businesses, is struggling to survive.

"I'm for closing down whatever post offices they need to do to stay in their budget," said Mertz, owner of Andy Mertz Pool Service. "We all as families have to stay within our budget."

Rewa Cerezo, a dental hygienist from Kahala, said closing some post offices makes sense.

"It's needed if the United States Postal Service can't afford it, if they're losing a lot of money," Cerezo said. "Most people are using the Internet for bills and such, so I think the reduction is needed."

NATIONWIDE CUTS

Nationally, the Postal Service announced this month that it will consider closing or reducing service at 3,200 of the nation's 27,200 postal stations and branches because of declining revenue. The popularity of text messaging, e-mailing and easy access to online mailing services has led to a dramatic decline in mail volume and USPS retail service.

The USPS reported a $2.8 billion loss last year and expects greater losses this year. The Washington Post reported yesterday that the Postal Service has so far identified 677 post offices nationwide for possible closure or consolidation.

"Ideally, we would love for the post offices to be busy, for the mail volume to be exactly the same as it was a few years ago when it reached an all-time high," Gonzales said. "We'd love for that to be the case, but there's a new reality and we need to face what the new reality is and make the most of our situation, and that's what this process is a part of."