USPS says it will consider curbside mail delivery for rebuilt Lahaina homes

The US Postal Service said it will consider curbside mail delivery for rebuilt homes in Lahaina if safety conditions are met. The agency has not yet decided whether to permanently close the Lahaina Downtown Post Office.

The Postal Service outlined its position in an Oct. 9 letter responding to Mayor Richard Bissen. On Sept. 2, Bissen asked the US Postmaster General to preserve and restore home delivery for residents returning to neighborhoods damaged in the August 2023 wildfire. He also asked the agency to reconsider closing the downtown post office.

In its response, the Postal Service said senior retail and delivery leaders re-evaluated the matter after receiving the mayor’s letter. The agency said it “will consider offering curbside delivery” to rebuilt delivery points if the town and residents establish safe conditions.

The mayor’s office noted that the Postal Service has not committed to restoring home delivery to every address that had it before the wildfire. The agency said it will restart delivery only after it approves mailbox locations and a street is “sufficiently occupied.”

The agency listed several requirements for curbside delivery:

• Mailboxes must be placed so carriers can reach them without leaving their vehicles or driving on the curb.
• Parked vehicles cannot block mailboxes.
• Carriers must be able to deliver mail safely.

Post office closure still under review

The Postal Service said it is still reviewing the proposed closure of the Lahaina Downtown Post Office. The agency is considering comments, questions and feedback submitted during and after a virtual community meeting on Aug. 25.

“No final decision has yet been made,” the Postal Service said in its letter.

It added that final decisions are subject to review by the independent Postal Regulatory Commission, and that the discontinuance procedures in Title 39 of the US Code must be followed before a post office can be permanently closed.

County plans parking rules

Maui County is preparing regulatory changes to address on-street parking in Lahaina’s rebuilding neighborhoods, the Office of the Mayor said. Officials initially deferred parking restrictions to accommodate utility restoration work and to give property owners space to prepare their lots for rebuilding. With rebuilding progressing and more residents returning home, the county now plans to move ahead with parking regulations to help ensure safe access for postal delivery and other essential services.

County officials are scheduling a meeting with Postal Service leaders to discuss the conditions needed for curbside delivery.

Bissen said direct home mail delivery is particularly important to kūpuna, people with disabilities and residents with limited mobility. Home delivery provides essential access to medications, financial documents, government correspondence and other important materials, he said.

““While important decisions remain ahead, we appreciate the United States Postal Service’s continued engagement and its willingness to explore solutions that recognize Lahaina’s unique recovery challenges,” Bissen said.

The mayor’s office said homes rebuilt on existing residential lots in established neighborhoods should be recognized as part of Lahaina’s recovery, not automatically treated as new residential development. Bissen and county Office of Recovery officials continue to work with the Postal Service and community partners to support returning residents, the mayor’s office said.

More information is available from the Office of the Mayor and the Office of Recovery.