Mail Parks FAQ’s

There will be 5 locations:  4th and Kaloli; 14th and Kaloli; 6th and Maku’u; 16th and Maku’u; Pohaku Place for those on the other side of the Highway.

The Mail Parks will be using the Non-Road funds (the 5% allowed each year). The BOD for the past 6 years has been setting aside the 5% to Non-Roads account to save up for this project. We have budgeted $600,000 for the Mail Parks and currently have $800,000+ in the non-road account. The amount held each year is about $150,000. This has not impacted roads being paved or maintained. Cost to pave a 1 mile road is approximately $600,000.

Speed limit signs are posted on all roads, 35 mph on the main roads, 25 mph on paved roads and 15 mph on gravel roads. Additional safety measures are being explored.

There has been solar lighting installed at all 4 Mail Park sites. There are no plans to fence the 1 acre sites or have gates.

Any property on the Kaloli side of Paradise will have a box on Kaloli. All others will have a box at the Maku’u sites.  Anyone from 13th Ave to the ocean, on the Kaloli side, will be at 4th & Kaloli Mail Park site.  Anyone from 14th Ave to the Highway, on the Kaloli side, will be at 14th & Kaloli Mail Park site.  Anyone on 15th Ave to the ocean on the Pahoa side of Paradise to Makuu Dead end, will be at 6th & Makuu Mail Park site.  Anyone on 16th and above to the Highway on the Pahoa side of Paradise to Makuu Dead End will be at the 16th Ave and Makuu Mail Park site.

Once the new boxes are able to receive mail, owners will start the change of address process to transition to their street addresses. The Post Office will be the ones making the decision when all mail delivery will stop to the HC boxes. It will be the responsibility of each owner to submit the change of address cards to the Post Office. Owners that have boxes other than the HC boxes in HPP will be able to shut down their boxes on their own timetable. It is most likely that a notice will be put in all HC boxes with the deadline as to when mail delivery will stop at those locations.

There will be no charge from HPP for use of these mailboxes. HPPOA is responsible for the maintenance or replacement of the boxes in the future but the Non-road funds should be sufficient for that in the future.

Once boxes are assigned, the keys will be received from the Post Office.  Keys will then be available for pickup at the designated location.

Distribution to owners/renters assigned to the 4th & Kaloli Mail Park started on June 9th, 2025.  Please visit our website and click on “Mail Parks Reports”  for current key distribution days and hours of operation.

There is a site plan posted on the website.

The traffic flow to all sites will be from Kaloli or Maku’u. The entrance to each site will be off of 4th, 6th, 14th or 16th. There will be 2 entrances to each site, with 2 way traffic circling the Mail Parks and parking in front of each cluster.

The deed restrictions state the property cannot be used for residential or commercial use which the mailboxes are neither. The restrictions are for parks and education, communal use which the mailboxes are for the community. Inasmuch as the Watumull’s have on multiple occasions in the past stated they do not object to our mail parks, we have written them of our intention to go forward with the project.

All boxes will be accessible per ADA requirements.

Home delivery was stopped decades ago. The Post Office has the obligation to deliver the mail but determines the delivery means. For HPPOA, the cluster box option is the only option that was available.

The easements on the main roads is 20 feet, but not always usable. The USPS felt that our easements would not provide the safety they desired for their employees delivering the mail or for the residents picking up their mail. They approved the 20 acre sites back in 2018 and were only willing to approve sites that offered the same style. When we costed out the easement option, it was double the cost of the 20 acre sites.

No. All boxes on the main roads will be removed by the USPS after all 4 sites have mail service.

All lots will be assigned a mailbox unless they are currently receiving home delivery and are located on Highway 130. Even if you own multiple lots, you will be assigned a box for each lot for possible use in the future if you sell your extra lot. You will not be required to use more than one box if you own multiple lots, it will be blocked off until needed.

All boxes are expected to be accessible 24/7.

At this time, there are no plans to develop the 20 acre sites.  A Mail Park Beautification Committee has been formed to facilitate beautifying the Mail Park areas.

The HPPOA Board submitted plans to the County and they told us that they were not necessary. However, they changed their mind.  All permits were secured and closed out as the work was completed.

There was not one required because we are using less than an acre of land per site. However, an archeological field study was done for the 14th & Kaloli and 16th & Makuu Mail Park sites.

It is our understanding that there is not one required because we are using less than an acre of land per site. However, an archeological field survey was conducted at the 14th and 16th sites.  The results of that study were submitted to SHPD (State of Hawaii Historic Preservation).

The Bylaws and 421J give the BOD the authority to make decisions on the use of Association assets. No vote is required by the members for the Mail Parks to be located on the 20 acre sites.

The USPS asked that we start with the 4th and Kaloli site and then the 6th and Maku’u site. We will then move to the 14th and Kaloli and the 16th and Maku’u sites. Pohaku boxes will be done last.

The USPS will start service at 4th & Kaloli on June 11, 2025.  They hope to have service to 6th & Makuu start 30 days later.  No start date for the upper two sites at 14th & Kaloli and 16th & Makuu.  USPS will determine when service begins at each location.

The USPS has all 8,850 boxes for us. 5,000 boxes are being stored at our maintenance yard; the rest are in storage in Hilo. The current parcel lockers will be moved from the main road sites to the new sites.

Yes, please see the link provided on the Mail Parks Updates post.

The option of purchasing lots and placing the clusters on that property was considered. The cons outweighed the pros.

Con – cost of each lot would be $50k-$75k, we would most likely have to have 6 sites vs. 4 sites so cost would be increased by $300k-$400k above current cost just to purchase the land.

Con – residents around the lot would be greatly affected by the traffic and noise. Current sites have non deed restrictions on the property across from them and nothing for 5+ acres on each side.

Con – the use of a residential lot would require a long narrow layout with room for only 1 entrance/exit vs. the acre on the 20 acre sites will be laid out so that the length goes along the avenues allowing for 2 entrance/exits per site. It would also make the CBU’s closer to neighboring lots.

We do have a deadline of June 30th, 2023, to show that we have applied for permits, started grading or have pads ready to install the boxes. The USPS wants to see that we are moving forward to get this project done.

The General Manager had prepared the RFPs for the Civil Engineer and the grading/clearing for the property.  The bids for all four mail parks were awarded to Hokori Construction at the June 21st, 2024 Board of Director’s meeting.

Volunteers for construction are welcome to help so long as they are licensed, bonded and can show evidence of insurance for any work performed. Volunteers for beautification and landscaping would also be welcome. If you’re interested in helping, please contact the office.

Donations and volunteers will never be turned down.

If you have sold your property, please turn in the mailbox keys you were given by HPPOA to the Keaau Post Office.  The new owner will need to go to the Keaau Post Office to provide documentation needed to pick up keys for that box.