Mail on Kaua’i: How to Ship That One Thing You Forgot to Your Condo
It’s happened to us all at some point: you pack for your vacation, maybe a few days ahead of time like a responsible traveler, and think you’ve grabbed all your essentials, only to discover you forgot your prescription meds, or your baby’s bottles at home. Sometimes you’re able to simply repurchase these necessary items once you land, but other times it requires having something shipped to you while you’re on vacation. This can be a frustrating complication, especially on Kaua’i where USPS typically doesn’t deliver packages to condos. Luckily, we’ve been around this particular block quite a few times, and can share all of your possible options for shipping something direct to Kaua’i.
Direct to Your Door Delivery Options: FedEx, UPS, DHX
If you’re looking to have your precious goods dropped off right at your front door, these three carriers are your only options. UPS is by far the most popular private delivery option on the island, though FedEx and DHX are still reliable. With these private carriers you’re able to specify which condo complex you’re staying in, and what your unit is, and your package will typically arrive at your front door like normal. Occasionally a package will be dropped off at the property management office on site, so if your tracking information says delivered and your package is nowhere to be seen, be sure to check in with the condo complex’s resident manager. While the private mail carriers are a great option for direct-to-your-door convenience, they’re also a fair bit more expensive than USPS, so it’s usually worth comparing costs before making a decision. It’s also important to note that, even with private carriers, packages will usually be taken to a bank of locked post boxes in the management office, and property owners generally do not make the mailbox key available to guests. Even a successful package delivery can get stuck inside a locked mailbox at the condo complex, which is why we recommend using the General Delivery method below.
General Delivery Through USPS
If you don’t mind picking your parcel up at a local post office, you can always opt for General Delivery through USPS. General Delivery means whichever post office you designate on the package’s address slip will hold the parcel for you until you come to pick it up, free of charge! This is a popular option for many permanent Kaua’i residents, not just visitors, as it allows you to pick up all of your packages in one fell swoop, and costs nothing extra. To utilize General Delivery services simply address your package as follows: NAME, GENERAL DELIVERY, CITY/TOWN OF DELIVERY, ZIP CODE. Here’s a sample label you could use to send a package for General Delivery to the Hanalei post office:
Once your package has arrived at the post office, all you need to do is show up with your government ID, and you’ll be good to go! We recommend this option to most of our guests that need something shipped to the island because it’s the most cost effective, and generally pretty quick. For a complete list of post offices on the island that offer General Delivery services, you can refer to the table below:
Shipping vs. Shopping: Locally Sourced is Always Best
When in doubt, always see if you can source something locally first. Not only is it faster and more convenient for you, but it has the added benefit of helping the island’s economy and businesses. If you do need to ship something to your vacation rental, though, now you know what your options are for on-island delivery!
