U.S. Postal Service appoints postmaster for Hilo

Kai Kawelo will oversee daily retail and delivery operations as Hilo’s new postmaster for the U.S. Postal Service.

Kawelo began his postal career in 2021 in Hilo as a mail processing clerk. Since then, he has advanced through multiple leadership opportunities across both the West and East coasts. Over the years, he has served in several operational leadership roles, including postmaster positions in Washington state and management roles in Florida.

These assignments provided broad experience in rural and city delivery operations, employee development, staffing optimization, labor relations, safety, budgeting, and operational performance improvement.

“As I return home to Hawaiʻi, I’m grateful for the experience, mentorship, and relationships I’ve gained throughout my career journey,” Kawelo said. “I look forward to bringing the knowledge and perspective I’ve developed back home to continue supporting our employees, operations, and the communities we proudly serve.”

Kawelo oversees 109 employees serving 5,000 P.O. boxes and 41 routes with more than 23,000 deliveries.

The Hilo Post Office is located at 1299 Kekuanaōʻa St. in Hilo and is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday.

Hilo Downtown Post Office is located at 154 Wailuku Dr. in Hilo and is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday.

The U.S. Postal Service is celebrating America’s 250th anniversary  with commemorative initiatives, stamps, and products.

For more information on services, visit the U.S. Postal Service website.