How Post Offices Are Run in Hawaii

Every post office in Hawaii is operated by the United States Postal Service (USPS), an independent federal agency created by the Postal Reorganization Act of 1970. Its rules are set out in Title 39 of the U.S. Code. A counter in Hilo follows the same federal standards as one in Honolulu or Hartford, even though island conditions are very different.

The State of Hawaii and its four counties do not staff, fund or license post offices. They still shape what moves through the mail. The Hawaii Department of Agriculture sets plant and animal import rules, the Office of Elections runs the state's vote-by-mail system, and county offices send out property tax notices and vehicle registration paperwork. If a parcel goes missing or a counter closes, USPS is the agency that answers, not a state or county office.

Our directory lists 95 post offices across 67 cities. The count tells only part of the story. Honolulu has 14 listings, while many neighbor-island communities depend on one small office as their only mail link. Knowing which kind of office you are heading to saves a wasted trip.

Oahu Post Offices From Downtown Honolulu to the Leeward Coast

Oahu holds most of the state's population, so its offices see the heaviest traffic. The Downtown Honolulu Post Office at 335 Merchant Street (808-532-1987) serves the business district, where lines tend to build around the lunch hour. Early morning or mid-afternoon visits are usually calmer.

East of town, the Hawaii Kai Post Office at 7040 Hawaii Kai Drive (808-396-6431) serves East Honolulu. Across Pearl Harbor to the west, the Ewa Station Post Office at 91-1202 Renton Road in Ewa Beach (808-689-4250) and the Barbers Point Post Office at 91 Lexington Street in Kapolei (808-671-0369) serve one of the island's fastest-growing areas. The Aiea Post Office at 99-040 Kauhale Street (808-483-0010) covers the community on the north side of the harbor.

Beyond the urban core, a single highway often links communities to their post office. The Nanakuli Post Office at 87-2070 Farrington Highway (808-696-0161) is listed under Waianae and serves the Leeward Coast. The Haleiwa Post Office at 66-437 Kamehameha Highway (808-637-1711) serves the North Shore, and the Hauula Post Office at 54-316 Kamehameha Highway (808-293-5057) serves the Windward side. A crash or lane closure on those roads can add an hour to your errand, so leave extra time. Our page for Honolulu County lists the full set of Oahu offices in the database.

Neighbor Island Offices on Hawaii Island, Kauai and Maui

Hawaii Island

The Big Island is larger than all the other Hawaiian islands combined, so distance drives mail habits. The Kailua Kona Post Office at 74-5577 Palani Road (808-326-1432) is a main West Hawaii counter. The Captain Cook Post Office at 82-6110 Mamalahoa Highway (808-323-9678) serves South Kona's coffee farms and ranches. On the east side, the Downtown Hilo Post Office at 154 Waianuenue Avenue (808-933-3014) anchors the county seat, while the Honokaa Post Office at 45-490 Lehua Street (808-775-0081) and the Hakalau Post Office at 29-2270 Old Mamalahoa Highway (808-963-6939) serve the Hamakua Coast. Browse the Hawaii County page for the rest of the island.

Kauai

Kauai's offices follow the coastal highways. The Hanamaulu Post Office at 3-4251 Kuhio Highway (808-245-8593) is listed under Lihue. Along the north, the Anahola Post Office at 4-4350 Kuhio Highway (808-822-4710) and the Hanalei Post Office at 5-5226 Kuhio Highway (808-826-1034) serve communities where heavy rain has closed roads before. On the south and west sides, you will find the Eleele Post Office at 4485 Waialo Road (808-335-5338), the Hanapepe Post Office at 3817 Kona Road (808-335-5433), the Waimea Post Office at 9911 Waimea Road (808-338-9973), and the Makaweli Post Office at 1-1100 Kaumualii Highway (808-338-9921), listed under Kaumakani. The Kauai County page shows all 16 listings.

Maui County

Maui County covers Maui, Molokai and Lanai, so one county spans several islands. On Molokai, the Hoolehua Post Office at 69-2 Puupeelua Avenue (808-567-6144) is in our database. On Maui, the Makawao Post Office at 1075 Makawao Avenue (808-572-0019) serves Upcountry, the Haiku Post Office at 770 Haiku Road (808-575-2614) covers the north shore, and the Hana Post Office at 1 Mill Place (808-248-8258) sits at the far end of the Hana Highway. The Downtown Lahaina Post Office at 132 Papalaua Street (808-661-0904) serves a community still recovering from the August 2023 wildfire, so call ahead for current hours and services. Details are on the Maui County page.

Rules and Habits That Matter When Mailing in Hawaii

A few local practices make post office visits smoother. Run through this checklist before you go:

Passports, Parcels and Other Services at the Counter

Not every post office offers every service. Passport applications are taken only at designated acceptance facilities, and many require appointments, so check by phone first. Larger urban offices such as Downtown Honolulu usually offer the widest range of counter services, while small rural offices focus on stamps, parcels, PO Boxes and money orders. If you need something specialized, ask the clerk which nearby office handles it. Parcels between islands travel by air, which keeps most deliveries quick, but severe weather and heavy holiday volume can slow them.

Residents of remote areas should also plan around the calendar. Hurricane season runs from June through November, and flooding or landslides can close the only road to a post office. Mail time-sensitive items early in the week and pay for tracking.

Next Steps Before You Visit

Start with the county page for your island, pick the office nearest your home or workplace, and phone to confirm hours and the service you need. If you are new to the islands, file a change of address with USPS, then notify the Office of Elections and your county offices separately, since each agency keeps its own records. Leaving for an extended trip? Ask your local office about holding your mail so it does not pile up in an unattended box.

Post offices in Hawaii are part of the national USPS network, operating under regional district management to deliver uniform service standards while accommodating the specific needs of urban, suburban, and rural communities across the state. Larger cities in Hawaii may have multiple post offices and main processing facilities.

Post Office locations are available in 67 cities across Hawaii. They are spread across 4 counties.

Cities with the highest concentration of post office locations include Honolulu, Kailua, Hilo, reflecting densely populated areas with multiple branch offices serving different neighborhoods and zip codes.

Residents of Hawaii can use the USPS website to find the closest post office, check current lobby and window hours, locate self-service kiosks available after hours, and track incoming and outgoing mail and packages from their phones or computers.

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Residents of Hawaii can save time by using USPS online tools to schedule package pickups from home, print prepaid shipping labels, and set up mail forwarding or hold requests without visiting a post office. When visiting a post office in Hawaii for passport acceptance, call ahead to confirm that the specific location offers the service and whether an appointment is required.

Browse Post Office by county across Hawaii to find the nearest location.

Island Mail Realities: ZIP Codes, Holidays and Weather in Hawaii

Hawaii ZIP codes begin with 967 or 968. Honolulu addresses generally start with 968, while most neighbor-island and many outlying Oahu addresses start with 967. Getting the ZIP code right matters because several place names repeat across the islands. Our database shows Kailua with three listings, and the Kailua Kona Post Office on Hawaii Island is filed under that name, so check the county before you set your navigation app.

The Postal Service follows the federal holiday calendar. State observances such as Prince Kuhio Day on March 26 and Kamehameha Day on June 11 are not federal holidays, so offices generally stay open, although a quick call to your local counter is wise. Hours often differ between a large Honolulu office and a small station in Hana or Hoolehua.

Weather deserves a place in your plans too. Hurricane season, heavy winter rain and flash flooding can delay deliveries or close the roads leading to an office. If you will be away during a storm-prone stretch, use the USPS hold mail service and ask a neighbor to check your PO Box when you return.

Hawaii Post Office Questions Answered

No. Post offices in Hawaii belong to the United States Postal Service, a federal agency, so staffing, hours, fees and complaint procedures are set nationally. The state and counties handle related tasks instead. The Hawaii Department of Agriculture controls plant and animal imports, the Office of Elections administers voting by mail, and county governments process vehicle registration and property tax mail. For a delivery or counter complaint, contact USPS directly, starting with the office phone number in our listings, such as 808-532-1987 for the Downtown Honolulu Post Office. For state-regulated items, contact the relevant state agency.

Our database lists the Hoolehua Post Office at 69-2 Puupeelua Avenue (808-567-6144) on Molokai and the Hana Post Office at 1 Mill Place (808-248-8258) on Maui. Both fall under Maui County, which also includes Lanai. Because these communities sit far from larger towns, call ahead for hours and ask whether the service you need, such as a passport application or a large package pickup, is available there. The Maui County page also shows nearby listings in Makawao, Haiku and Lahaina.

Sometimes, but the rules are strict. Agricultural items leaving Hawaii for the mainland can be subject to federal inspection because of the risk of spreading pests, and some plants and produce are restricted or need certification. Items coming into Hawaii face import requirements from the Hawaii Department of Agriculture. Before you ship orchids, fresh pineapple or similar gifts, check current guidance with the department or the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, and ask your post office clerk about packaging and labeling. Commercially processed gifts, such as packaged coffee, usually face fewer hurdles than fresh items.

Generally not. USPS observes federal holidays, and Kamehameha Day (June 11) and Prince Kuhio Day (March 26) are state holidays rather than federal ones. State and county government offices may close, which can make it feel like everything is shut, yet your local post office is typically open on its normal schedule. Hours still vary by location, particularly in small communities like Hanalei, Makaweli or Hakalau, so phone the office before you travel. Federal holidays such as Christmas Day and Independence Day do close counters and stop regular delivery.

Hawaii runs its elections primarily by mail, and registered voters receive a ballot at the address on file. You can return it with the postage-paid envelope, or use an official drop-off location or voter service center. The Office of Elections must receive your ballot by its deadline, so a postmark alone may not be enough. Mail it several days early, especially from remote communities or when it must cross between islands. If your ballot never arrives, update your address with the Office of Elections and ask about a replacement.

Hawaii County and many Oahu neighborhoods use a hyphenated numbering system in which the first number reflects the district or land area and the second identifies the property. Examples in our listings include 74-5577 Palani Road in Kailua Kona and 91-1202 Renton Road in Ewa Beach. The hyphen is part of the address, so keep it on forms, labels and online checkout fields. Leaving it out can cause a carrier or a GPS app to misread the location. If an online form rejects the hyphen, call the nearest post office to confirm how to format it.