Tokuda leads Hawaiʻi delegation in demanding restoration of direct mail delivery to rebuilt Lahaina properties

US Rep. Jill N. Tokuda (HI-02) led the Hawaiʻi Congressional Delegation in demanding that the United States Postal Service immediately halt its decision to stop direct home mail delivery for Lahaina families returning to rebuilt properties.

In a joint letter sent to Postmaster General David Steiner, Rep. Tokuda, Sens. Brian Schatz (D-HI), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), and Representative Ed Case (HI-01), pressed USPS leadership to reverse policies that classify rebuilt properties in Lahaina as “new developments” and subject to centralized delivery to community mailboxes rather than restoring their home delivery.

The lawmakers also expressed strong opposition to a feasibility study that could permanently close the Downtown Lahaina Post Office, which has been under emergency suspension since the August 2023 wildfires.

“Lahaina residents are not moving into new subdivisions. They are returning to a historic community and to homes rebuilt on the same properties and at the same delivery points that existed before the fire,” the delegation wrote. “Lahaina’s survivors have already borne extraordinary burdens in the aftermath of the wildfires. They should not be expected to shoulder additional burdens, costs, and disruptions resulting from changes to postal services that USPS has failed to adequately communicate, plan for, or implement.” 

The delegation called on USPS to take immediate corrective steps:

• Reverse the classification of rebuilt Lahaina properties as “new developments” and restore pre-disaster direct mail delivery.
• Ensure affected residents have reasonable access to mail without additional costs or unnecessary disruptions while permanent delivery arrangements are established.
• Disclose full administrative, legal, and operational records detailing why direct delivery was cut before replacement infrastructure was ready.
• Explain why the Downtown Lahaina Post Office lease was not renewed, along with USPS’s efforts to secure a new location.
• Hold meaningful, accessible public meetings with residents and local businesses before making permanent changes.

The full letter to Postmaster General Steiner is available here.