USPS Denies Mail Delivery to Lahaina Fire Survivors — SkimNews
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- USPS informed Lahaina fire victims that rebuilt homes would no longer receive street delivery, classifying the area as 'new development' under current policy, leaving dozens without mail service.
- Calvin Cox filed a formal complaint after being told his Lahaina address was no longer eligible for door-to-door delivery, sparking a months-long effort to restore service.
- Kesa Ferguson learned her address had been 'eliminated' when she failed to receive medical prescriptions, tax forms, and DMV documents, despite paying property taxes at that location.
- Sara Clark and other residents reported seeing mail carriers bypass their homes while delivering to nearby undamaged properties, calling the treatment 'deeply insulting'.
- Jill Tokuda, a Hawaii congresswoman, called USPS’s decision 'absolutely unacceptable' and said her office is pressing agency leadership to reinstate home delivery.
- Richard Bissen, Maui county mayor, demanded USPS prioritize restoring mail service, stating families should not lose essential services because their homes were destroyed.
Why it matters: Over 100 people died and about 2,000 homes were destroyed in the Lahaina fire; now, with only 25% of homes rebuilt, survivors face added hardship from losing basic services. The USPS policy treats them as new developments—despite centuries-old roots—forcing elderly and low-mobility residents to travel miles for mail, risking lapses in insurance, voting, and legal compliance.
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