Ka‘ū News Briefs, Friday, November 29, 2019

STATE SEN. KAI KAHELE SENT OUT A THANKSGIVING WEEKEND MESSAGE. It said, in part, that for the last 50 years, this day has "been known for marking the solemn remembrance of America's complicated history." He noted that, since 1970, Native Americans and other indigenous peoples have called upon allies and supporters to join them at noon on Cole's Hill on Thanksgiving Day in Plymouth to recognize their National Day of Mourning, as a means of bringing awareness to the ongoing struggles of Native peoples throughout the United States and the world.
     "It is also the Hawaiian national holiday of Lā Kū'oko'a first recognized on Nov. 28, 1843, when Great Britain and France acknowledged the Hawaiian islands as an independent nation.

Kai Kahele and family send a Thanksgiving aloha. Photo from Kai Kahele

     "As a native Hawaiian man of mixed heritage from a state home to many people of mixed ethnicities, I have the privilege of continuously navigating histories and identities that are complex and nuanced. I firmly believe these complexities make us stronger as a community, as we have the great fortune of uplifting cultural traditions from across the globe....
     "Throughout my entire life, I was taught that we can bridge divides through respect and aloha. In this time of great divisiveness, it is easy to focus on what we don't agree on but rather, let's focus on what binds us together. Our commitment to freedom, equality, and justice. Having compassion for one another. The belief that our best days are ahead of us if we are willing to keep working, to keep fighting and to keep reaching for a higher plateau."

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CHRISTMAS PACKAGES HEADING OUT FROM HAWAIʻI through the U.S. Postal Service should be sent before the daily cutoff dates just released:
     Mail First-Class and Priority headed to international and overseas military destinations, including Samoa, by next Friday, Dec. 6. First-Class and Priority mail headed to Guam and Saipancan be mailed as late as Friday, Dec. 13. First-Class and Priority mail headed to the mainland should be sent by Thursday, Dec. 19, and Dec. 20 for Hawaiʻi-bound mail.

     Expedited Priority Express packages and letters for international and overseas military destinations should be sent by Friday, Dec. 13; to Samoa by Saturday, Dec. 14; to Guam and Saipan by Thursday, Dec. 19, and by all to mainland destinations and Hawaiʻi locations by Saturday, Dec. 21.

"Seasons Greeting from Hawaii" is on some specially marked Priority Mail boxes. Photo from Twitter, @bobbecka

     USPS asks postal customers, "Keep in mind that the suggested mailing dates are not deadlines, implying that packages or letters will not arrive at their destinations if mailed after the listed dates. In fact, if normal holiday conditions prevail, chances are good that letters and packages sent shortly after the suggested dates will still make it to their destinations before Christmas. Ultimately, unpredictable factors such as mailing volumes and weather determine whether deliveries can be made early or on time."
     USPS suggests using Priority Mail Flat Rate Boxes to lower shipping costs. Customers can send up to 70 pounds in Medium Flat Rate Boxes to domestic locations for $14.35. Large Flat Rate Boxes, which hold 50 percent more (with the same 70-pound limit), can be sent for $19.95. For overseas military destinations, up to 70 pounds can be shipped in the military Large Flat Rate Box to most APO and FPO locations for $18.45. Priority Mail and Priority Express envelopes and boxes include day-specific delivery, improved tracking, and free insurance, and are available for free at local Post Offices. A limited number of boxes have "Seasons Greetings from Hawaii" printed on the side.

     Self Service Ship & Mail Centers are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in Hiloand Kona post offices.

     USPS.com can be sued to pay for postage and to print out mailing labels. Use usps.com/pickup for package pick up from home or office, usually on the next business day, for free. Prepaid and labeled mail can be dropped off at a Post Office without waiting in line.

     A statement from USPS said, "Soon after Hawaiʻi residents have finished digesting their Thanksgiving turkeys their thoughts will turn to Black Friday shopping and holiday gift shipping. The Postal Service is happy to assist its customers with those efforts by providing suggested holiday mailing dates specific to Hawaiʻi, news on extended holiday services, information about convenient self-service options, and holiday mailing tips."