lack of P.O. boxes

[terracore]

Do they have parcel lockers or does somebody fetch them?

[Obie]

They bring you the package. Yesterday there was a couple people in line to mail packages. Because of covid they only let in one person at a time.
There are usually 3 employees and when they notice a line someone comes out and asks box numbers. They tell every one waiting for a package to go to the side door and they bring out the packages. I was there 2 minutes.
The mail boxes are in the the lobby in front and can be accessed anytime.

[Wao nahele wahine]

If you live close to Pahoa, another option is getting a private mailbox at the Pahoa Business Center. We have used them for over 10 years. I think our annual cost for our box is $150 or so.

[birdmove]

Yesterday I stood in line at the Keaau Post Office for an hour and a half for a package I had ordered for my wife. I thought someone should set up a food truck or cart there, they'd sell a lot. I saw two guys starve to death in that line. Next time, I'll bring a stool, an umbrella, and a book I think.

[terracore]

That is crazy. The Hilo airport PO finally started a separate line for parcel pickups (at the window with the sign that says "This is NOT a parcel pickup window", so it's a little counter intuitive) which seems to help a lot. But also the number of people trying to mail things out in time for Xmas has dropped off.

[AaronM]

We had a free box at the Keaau PO.  On first year anniversary got a "final notice" nastygram that they were going to give the box to someone else because we hadn't brought in our annual proof of where we lived (tax bill if I remember right). Problem is, we never got a "first" or any other notice so I asked politely about that.  They accused me of making that up and turned it around on me like I was accusing them of not doing their job. 

Second year, never got first, second, OR final notice.  They just changed the lock on us.  So asked them about it and accused us of lying again and said we would have to get back on waiting list.  My guess is that somebody's uncle needed a box and didn't want to wait in line.  It was a choice box too (one of the larger ones).  I pay for a box in Hilo because its convenient to where I commute rather than dealing with Keaau drama for free box.  (There was regular drama there).

The other benefit to paying for box is that you can get UPS and FedEx packages at your PO box.  It's expensive though, I think the cheapest box is around $130/year now.

Whatever the case, if you get a free box, put the date on the calendar and make sure you bring in your tax bill or whatever every year or they might give your box away.

There is a UPS store opening in the Puna Kai center.  I don't know when but they rent boxes.  I was thinking of trying them out.

Sorry you went through all that hassle.  Strange as well because I have had a box for over a decade and was only asked for my bonafides one time, during the initial set up.

[randomq]

$30/month tells me there is opportunity for competition!

[ChunksterK]

We had a free box at the Keaau PO . . . accused me of making that up and turned it around on me like I was accusing them of not doing their job . . . and accused us of lying again . . . 

Early in the 19 years I have been dealing with the postal service (utter lack of service, actually) in Puna, I learned to avoid the Keaau post office.  They invariably try to find ways not to help customers, lie about whatever the circumstances at hand might be, and are just generally slow and unfriendly.  I have gone back on several occasions hoping that things might have changed, but they only seem to get worse.  Like terracore, the Frau and I rent a box in Hilo, even though it's not the most convenient arrangement for us.  Unless we are expecting something urgently needed, we only check the box when we buy groceries in Hilo every other week.  We often get those "we're going to send your package back" notices, but so far nothing has been boomeranged to the mainland.

[Obie]

The people down in Koae and Papaya Farms Road just lost their mailboxes because of repeated break-ins.
The USPS says they will no longer repair the boxes, they are removing them and another 60 or so families will have to stand in line at the Pahoa Post Office.

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

We had a panel ripped off one of the boxes in HPP on Paradise Drive a few days ago.  I found it leaned up against the row of boxes early one morning, and managed to get it partially back into position.  I thought that might prevent somebody from taking it, because replacing it would be a bigger problem than a minor repair.  Now the people on that panel have to drive to Keaau for mail pickup.  Hopefully it can be fixed, the front panel didn’t look damaged but it didn’t fall off on its own.