U.S. Postal Service announces new Postmaster for Hilo

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The U.S. Postal Service appointed Kai Kawelo on Friday as the new Postmaster for Hilo, Hawaii. In this role, he will oversee daily retail and delivery operations for the Hilo community.

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Kawelo began his postal career in 2021 in Hilo as a PSE 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 Hawaii, I’m grateful for the experience, mentorship, and relationships I’ve gained throughout my career journey,” said Kawelo. “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.”

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Kawelo oversees 109 employees serving 5,000 PO Boxes and 41 routes with more than 23,000 deliveries.

Hilo Post Office is located at 1299 Kekuanaōʻa St, Hilo. Hours: Mon – Fri 8:00 am – 4:30 pm; Saturday 9:00 am – 12:30 pm; closed Sunday

Hilo Downtown Post Office is located at 154 Waiānuenue Ave, Hilo. Hours: Mon – Fri 9:00 am – 4:00 pm; Saturday 12:30 pm – 2:00 pm; closed Sunday.

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