Here's a reminder about holiday mail

By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer

It may be Thanksgiving, but it's time to start thinking about getting those Christmas cards and packages in the mail.

Letters and cards bound for Japan, China and the Philippines should be mailed by Wednesday, and packages sent via airmail should be posted by Dec. 5. For packages sent through the Postal Service's Global Priority Mail, the recommended deadline is Dec. 10.

For cards to the Mainland, the Postal Service recommends that they be in the mail by Dec. 17. Priority mail packages should be sent by Dec. 16; Express Mail by Dec. 20.

Postal Service spokesman Marc Dixon said these aren't "drop-dead" dates, but he said they will allow for sufficient time to process and deliver the mail.

"Even if you were to miss the date by a day or two, that wouldn't mean that you have to go out and charter your own plane. You probably would still stand a good chance of making it," Dixon said.

To help ease the crunch at post offices, the Postal Service announced extended hours at selected locations.

Special Monday-through-Saturday hours will be in effect at 18 O'ahu post offices from Dec. 8 through Dec. 22. The Airport and Ala Moana post offices will be open on Dec. 14 and 21, and additional weekend hours will in place Dec. 13 and 14.

"We really hope that people can take advantage of the special hours, especially on the Saturdays and Sundays that we're open, and to get things in the mail so we have plenty of time to get it to the people that they want to get it to by Christmas," Dixon said.

Residents also are reminded that packages exceeding 16 ounces are not allowed to be dropped in mailboxes and must be taken to a post office.

Reach Curtis Lum at 525-8025 or culum@honoluluadvertiser.com.