HONOLULU – Valley Isle residents are invited to attend a grand opening celebration for Hawaii’s first Village Post Office in Hanzawa’s Variety Store in Haiku at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 6.

As a Village Post Office (VPO), Hanzawa’s will add the two most frequently purchased postal products and services — Forever stamps and Priority Mail flat rate products — to its variety of general merchandise.

VPOs are a part of the network of outlets owned and operated by third parties to complement the U.S. Postal Service’s own network of Post Offices. This third-party network, which includes Contract Postal Units, Approved Shippers and Stamps on Consignment locations, enables USPS to efficiently expand the availability of its services to its customers. Village Post Office customers can purchase Forever stamps and ship domestic Priority flat rate products. VPOs also serve as drop-off locations for prepaid packages and mail.

Haiku Postmaster Tom Cooley and USPS Honolulu District Manager Greg Wolny — the highest-ranking postal executive in the state — will join Hanzawa’s Manager Darren Jones in commemorating the occasion at the grand opening celebration on Feb. 6. The celebration will feature complimentary refreshments and the ceremonial untying of a maile lei at the store entrance.

“This is great news for Haiku residents,” said Cooley. “The Haiku Post Office serves such a large area that some of our customers must make a long drive to get to our office. The Hanzawa VPO is located near the edge of our service area, so customers in that area now have the option to purchase stamps and mail Priority flat rate boxes from them, rather than having to make the long trip to the Haiku Post Office. And, the store is the last stop on the road to Hana, so it will also be really convenient for visitors.”

Hanzawa’s, located at 1833 Kaupakalua Road in Haiku, is open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week, and from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on holidays.

“This opening is a positive development for everyone concerned," said USPS VPO Coordinator Nancy Wong. "Hanzawa’s should see increased customer visits and loyalty. Our customers will enjoy a one-stop shopping experience where they can buy stamps or ship flat rate boxes at the same place they purchase other products. And, the VPO provides us with an opportunity to strengthen our relationship with a small business and the community it serves while generating additional revenue.

There are 500 Village Post Offices located in a wide variety of businesses across the country. Hanzawa’s Variety Store is the first of what is hoped to be many VPOs in Hawaii.

“We are actively seeking other small businesses on Maui and across the state that we can partner with to open additional Village Post Offices,” said Wong. “Interested businesses should contact their local postmaster for more information.”

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