Extending U.S. Postal Services In Lihue

Long lines, lack of parking prompted Kevin Britt to open a contract postal unit in his Lihue warehouse

Nate’s Freight Services, a 9,700-square-foot storage warehouse and distributor, opened a contract postal unit (CPU) in Lihue last June. A CPU is privately owned and operated. Under contract to the U.S. Postal Service, it provides postal services at U.S. Postal Service prices.

“This CPU is a great option for postal customers on the Garden Isle,” says Junlin Rivera, Lihue Post Office officer-in-charge. “It effectively extends the reach of our postal products and services and provides additional customer convenience.”

CPU services include stamps, stamped envelopes, stamped postal cards, Express Mail, First Class Mail, parcel post, Priority Mail, insured mail, Certified Mail, return receipt, delivery confirmation, signature confirmation and registered mail. The only things you can’t get done are passport photos, lease a post office box or buy money orders.

At Nate’s Freight Services CPU, you also can use Priority Mail Flat Rate.

“We have hundreds of sizes,” says Kevin Britt, owner of the new services. “If you need 10 boxes for Christmas, come in and grab them. We’ll charge you for them when you bring them back to be shipped.”

Priority Mail Flat Rate also includes free USPS tracking, up to $50 in insurance coverage, delivery within three days, and Saturday and residential delivery at no extra charge.

Kate Donnelly, Britt’s niece and Nate’s Freight Services office manager, says, for some, the shop at 2956 Aukele St. is hard to find. If you are coming south, take Kapule Highway just past the airport and make a left on Halau Street. Follow it to the end and make a left on Aukele Street. It’s the brown building at the very end of the street where Kaua’i Floors used to be.

After entering the complex, you’ll see Nate’s Freight Services on your right. Tinted windows sport two curved American flags; a Postal Service logo hangs in the middle.

“If you’ve ever been to the Lihue Post Office, you know about the long lines and how hard it is to find parking,” says Britt. “We have 10 regular and two handicapped parking spots plus a wheelchair ramp.”

With more parking spaces and shorter lines, customers can zip in and out. Britt estimates that, for someone who lives by Ace Hardware, it can take up to 30 minutes to go to the Lihue Post Office and back. He says if they were going to Britt’s new CPU, it will take only five minutes.

“Word is getting out and nearby businesses know that we are here,” says Britt. “We already have regular customers because they know we are close and they don’t have to take their stuff downtown.”

Nate’s Freight Services 2956 Aukele St., Ste, 101, Lihue, Open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Look for Nate’s Freight CPU on Facebook.