Five Big Island Post Offices Facing Cut in Hours

Five post offices on the Big Island are among a dozen in Hawaii facing cuts in hours of operation.

The proposed cuts at 13,000 rural post offices are in lieu of plans the US Postal Service announced last month to close 3,700 across the nation.

The reduction in hours will save the USPS approximately $500 million per year, CNN has reported.

CNN said the the Postal Service will allow rural communities to choose whether to keep their post office open with shorter hours, transform to a “village post office” operated through a private company or close the office. Postal authorities believe most communities will prefer shorter hours, CNN said.

The shortening of hours would occur over the next two years and be completed by September 2014. According to the Washington Business Journal, the plan still must be approved by the Postal Regulatory Commission.

Postal authorities say changes have to be made after the USPS suffered a $5.1 billion loss in 2011.

According to KITV news, the affected Big Island post offices to be changed from eight hours to six hours are located in Honomu and Laupahoehoe; those changing from eight hours to four hours are in Hakalau, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and Papa‘aloa.