Updates as of February 16, 2020
Yesterday:
Today:
Tomorrow:
- Expanded content on Cemeteries based on feedback from site users, residents, scholars and staff from the County Planning Department.
- Added new pictures of John M. and Georgiana Ross circa the 1920s donated to the Lyman Museum by Mrs. Mildred T. Isomura. Mrs. Isomura's mother, Hanyo Sumida, was their maid for many years.
Today:
- Updated the Issues Today with the latest update (December 13) about Kolekole and Hakalau Bay Parks and the Hakalau Post Office
- Updated Upcoming Events, including a new Music and Movement class for children 0-5 years of age at the Hakalau Jodo Mission.
- Updated Hakalau Neighborhood Watch with the plan for 2020 and the addition of a new page, Latest Area Crime and Suspicious Activity Reports
Tomorrow:
- Updated information about the Hawai`i County General Plan
- Updated status of the implementation of the Hāmākua Community Development Plan (CDP) and its Action Committee
- Updated information related to Arsenic Remediation of Hakalau Point including the recently approved remediation implementation plan and plans for ongoing surveillance.
Hakalau Post Office Then and Now
In mid-January, the Hakalau Post Office closed indefinitely due to structural concerns. This time of change in our daily mail routine is a good time to review its history.
Postmasters:
Mail has been delivered in Hakalau since the late 1800s, usually by pick up at the Hakalau Store. The Hakalau Post Office was officially subsumed by the U.S.Post Office Department on June 14, 1900, when Hawaii becamea territory of the United States.
October 4, 2014.
Mail has been delivered in Hakalau since the late 1800s, usually by pick up at the Hakalau Store. The Hakalau Post Office was officially subsumed by the U.S.Post Office Department on June 14, 1900, when Hawaii becamea territory of the United States.
- Daibhidh MacKenzie, Postmaster, confirmed 06/09/1900 (also the Manager of Hakalau Store)
- William Ross, Postmaster, confirmed 03/31/1905 (also the Manager of Hakalau Store)
- Amos A. Ignacio, Acting Postmaster, confirmed 12/31/1934, released 07/01/1935
- Jack Y. Ouye, Postmaster, confirmed 04/01/1936, retired 05/31/1971
- Mr. Fumiko U. Sunahara, Officer-In-Charge, confirmed 05/31/1971, confirmed as Postmaster on 11/27/1971
- Quincie Martines, Officer-In-Charge, confirmed 10/22/1987
- Mrs. Juanita L. Van Domburg, Postmaster, confirmed 07/15/1989
- Georgianna Carreira, Officer-In-Charge, confirmed 11/02/1992
- Nancy R. Shah, Postmaster, confirmed 11/13/1993
- Janet L. Sorenson, Officer-In-Charge, confirmed 07/26/2001, confirmed as Postmaster on 03/20/2004
- Karen M. Cambra, Officer-In-Charge, confirmed 09/30/2014
October 4, 2014.
Prior to 1928: The Hakalau Post Office was located inside the old, old store. It didn't become part of the US Postal Service until 1900.
Hakalau Store, date unkown but estimated to be about between 1890-1900. Photo courtesy of the Lyman Museum.
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Hakalau Store, early 1900s, courtesy of Kim Kohl, granddaughter of William Ross, Store Manage, 1904-1936. Mr. Ross served as Postmaster from 1905-1934.
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1928-1961: The "old" Hakalau Post Office, adjacent the Hakalau Store, opened circa January 1928 and served the community for 33 years. The building was torn down sometime between 1967 and 1974.
Hawaii State Archives PP-28-11-014
Jack Ouye, circa 1950s, outside the Hakalau Post Office next to the Hakalau Store. Photo from the Jack Ouye Collection, courtesy of Akiko Masuda.
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Hakalau Post Office in the 1950s. The space was only 225 square feet. Photo from the Jack Ouye Collection, courtesy of Akiko Masuda.
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1961: The "new" Hakalau Post Office in the old theater building opened December 3, 1961. At 600 square feet, it was nearly 3 times the size of the "old" post office adjacent to the Hakalau Store.
1987-1989: Attempts to close the Hakalau Post Office affected many small post offices on the Big Island. Hakalau Post Office survived due to the community support. Jack Ouye, Postmaster from 1936-1971 and President of the Hakalau Recreational Council spearheaded the community support initiative.
Hawaii Tribune Herald, March 26, 1987, accessed via Newspapers.com
Hawaii Tribune Herald, August 24, 1987, accessed via Newspapers.com
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Hawaii Tribune Herald, March 26, 1989, accessed via Newspapers.com
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1993: The Hakalau Community Association held a groundbreaking ceremony for the "Hakalau Project" to refurbish the gym, build rooms for senior citizen programs and move the post office to the side of the E.S. Capellas Hall (in front of Hakalau School). Source: Hawaii Tribune Herald, October 14, 1993, pages 14 and 22.
2000: The Hakalau Post Office was not relocated adjacent to E.S. Capellas Hall. It remained in the old Hakalau Theater Building, along with another tenant, Hakalau Hall, a dance/concert venue for isle youth.
Leisurely "talk story" pace of the Hakalau Post Office, Hawaii Tribune Herald, November 5, 2000, accessed via Newspapers.com
2020: On January 13, the Hakalau Post Office was closed due to concerns about the structural integrity and safety of the building. The post office in this location has served the Hakalau community for 58 years. Whether the structure can be repaired such that the post office can return to this building remains to be determined. In the meantime, the Hakalau community is receiving its mail at the Honomu Post Office.
