::: Island of Hawaii Postmarks, Part 3 - Keaau to Niulii :::

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Keaau, Puna District
"hindering current"
1899-1900
Postmaster: Peter Lee (1899-1900)
Camp for the Olaa Plantation, located near the Olaa Sugar Mill near the junction of the Volcano Road and Pahoa Road. See notes for Olaa. Mail service was by the Hilo to Volcano carriage route.

Keaiwa, Ka'u District
"the mystery" [Pukui]; "the brave" [Davey]
1860-1869; 1877-1880
Postmasters: F. Lyman (1860-at least 1875), G. W. Willfong (1877-1878), W. Goodale (1879-1880). Keaiwa was the name of the sheep and goat ranch operated by Fred Lyman (of the Hilo family) near present day Keaiwa Reservoir upland of Pahala. In 1868, the place was destroyed by an earthquake said to be the strongest ever to hit anywhere in the present-day United States outside of Alaska. By the 1870s, it was the site of sugar planters associated with the Hawaiian Agricultural Sugar Mill and Plantation Company, W. Goodale, manager. Wilfong was a planter and deputy sheriff and owned a general store at Keaiwa that may have served as the post office when he was postmaster and also when Goodale was postmaster. Mail service was by the Hilo to Kawaihae overland route via Kona or by ships landing mail at Honuapo or Punaluu.
About 500 2¢ stamps were used annually.

Kealakekua, South Kona District
"path of the gods"
1856-1900
Postmasters: P. Cummings (1857-1866), George F. Spencer (1866), sheriff Richard B. Neville (1866-1868), Alex Smith (1868-1870), H. N. Greenwell (1870-1891), Rev. S. N. Davis (1891-1894) and R. Wassman (1894-1900). Four places in the vicinity of Kealakekua Bay were locations for postal facilities: Kealakekua, Kaawaloa, Hudsonville and Napoopoo. Kealakekua and Kaawaloa are land divisions (ahupuaa) as were Onouli and Kalukalu where Hudsonville and later Kealakekua post offices were located (go to http://evols.library.manoa.hawaii.edu/handle/10524/49272 for an 1901 map, courtesy of the University of Hawaii, Manoa; red dots on the map are post office locations in 1901; ahupuaas are shown with their boundaries). Today, the town of Kealakekua has absorbed Onouli and Kalukalu (but not Kealakekua ahupuaa). Napoopoo is a landing on the south shore of Kealakekua Bay near the edge of Kealakekua ahupuaa. Kaawaloa ahupuaa stretches from Kaawaloa Landing on the north shore of Kealakekua Bay to the uphill region now occupied by the town of Captain Cook. Kealakekua ahupuaa abutted Kaawaloa’s south boundary. The uphill region is on a plain at about 1500’ elevation so travelling between the landings and the uphill region wasn’t a casual thing even on horseback. Contemporary writers rarely specified whether they meant uphill Kaawaloa or the Kaawaloa landing. Kealakekua and Napoopoo often were fused in contemporary writings. In 1890, Rev. J.D. Davis, whose church and residence were near Napoopoo Landing, complained about the name confusion: “H.N. Greenwell is put down as the Post Master for Kealakekua; whereas his store house residence & the Post Office is about two miles from the land of Kealakekua & at least three miles [uphill] from the landing. The P. Office at Napoopoo is near the landing & within a few hundred yards of said land Kealakekua. Letters & Parcels sent to Kealakekua P.O. often lie there for weeks, causing great discontent & confusion. Why not call things by their right names? Either Kalukalu, the name of the land, or Central Kona, as it is near the boundary of North & South Kona? If any P. Office is called Kealakekua, it should be the one on the Sea Shore, Kealakekua Bay.” Perhaps any inaccuracy in the following rendition of what office was where and when can be forgiven.

The original post office was at Capt. Cummings’s store at Napoopoo Landing and it was called Kealakekua P.O. Uphill, T.H. Paris had a post office at Hudsonville in Onouli ahupuaa (1857-1863). Henry Greenwell opened a post office (1866) uphill in Kaawaloa ahupuaa near what is now the town of Captain Cook. In 1868, Greenwell’s Kaawaloa post office was closed and the post office equipment was moved down to the Kealakekua post office at Napoopoo Landing. In 1869, Smith ran the post office in a room at the landing rented for a combination collectors office and post office but moved the post office to his nearby residence. In 1870 Greenwell opened a new store in Kalukalu ahupuaa on the border of Onouli ahupuaa where the Hudsonville post office had been located. These sites are just south of today’s town of Kealakekua. The Kealakekua post office moved from Napoopoo to Greenwell’s new Kalukalu store in 1870 and was run from the store. Postmaster Davis moved the post office to his home near Greenwell’s store. Wassman apparently moved it a couple of miles north to “Mrs. Yates’s,” despite complaints. The postmarks of Kealakekua are all associated with the office while it was located uphill. Mail service was by the overland route from Kawaihae to Hilo via Kona. A manuscript “ECC” is known on a Scott No. 31 cover originating in the neighborhood of the coastal location.

Keauhou, Puna District
Keauhou, South Kona District
"the new era" [Pukui]; "the new regime" [Davey]
1866-1868; 1881-1900
During the first postal period, the office known as Keauhou was located at a landing in Puna used for the Volcano House. During the second period, the office known as Keauhou was located in South Kona at the village by that name and the birthplace of Kamehameha III.
Postmasters: 1) at Puna: George Jones (1866-1869); 2) at South Kona: J. G. Hoapili (1881-1892), Mrs. G. W. Pilipo (1892-1894) and J. N. Koomoa (1894-1900). While the office was located at the Puna landing, it serviced the Volcano House and was run by the manager of Volcano House at the time. The landing was destroyed in 1868 by a tidal wave. The office at Puna used about 250 2¢ stamps annually. The office at South Kona, located near the steamship landing, sent about 3,000 to 4,000 letters annually from 1887 to 1894, but had stamp sales of only about $45 in 1899. Mail service was by the overland carrier between Kawaihae and Ka’u via Kona.

Kohala, North Kohala District
a name for the Pandanus tree
1858-1900
Postmasters: Rev. E. Bond (1855-1877), Dr. J. Wight (1878-1883), A. Wight (acting, March, 1879 to July, 1879), H. P. Wood (1883-1885), J. Haig Mackenzie (1886-1887), Ed G. Hitchcock (1887), W. L. Eaton (1887-1891), Miss E. D. Low (1891-1898) and Miss Maude R. Woods (1900). Located at Iole, about a quarter of a mile east of Kapaau, during Rev. Bond’s tenure; moved east about a mile to Halawa where Wight and Wood had a merchandise store; established at Kapaau when Hitchcock was postmaster. The office was moved into the court house building (still standing) in Kapaau in 1889. Kohala mail service was by overland carrier across the Kohala mountains to Waimea where the mail was collected by the Hilo to Kawaihae carrier and taken to Kawaihae. When the Hawaiian Railroad was built from Mahukona to plantations in North Kohala in 1882, mail service was by train to the landing at Mahukona. The Kohala office was furnished 2¢ Numerals in July, 1859. Between 1865 and 1871, the Kohala office used about 3000 2¢ stamps annually and reached a peak of letters sent at about 14,000 in 1887. Volume declined to 12,000 in 1890, 9,000 in 1892 and 8,000 in 1894. Stamp sales in 1899 amounted to about $1,600.

Kukuihaele, Hamakua District
"traveling lights" [Pukui]; "moving Kukui trees" [Davey]
1880-1900
Postmasters: Dr. Trousseau (1880-1884), W. Hookuanui (1884-1885), W. Horner (1885-1900). Trousseau ran the post office from the Pacific Mill Company. Hookuanui may have kept the post office at his residence. Horner was manager of the Kukuihaele Plantation and ran a general store on the “main road” where he kept the post office. In 1893, the post office was located “on the main road near the road to Waimea,” perhaps the location of Horner’s store.
Mail service was by the overland carrier between Kawaihae and Hilo via Hamakua, or by ships at the Kukuihaele landing.

Laupahoehoe, North Hilo District
"smooth lava tongue"
1859-1871; 1880-1884; 1888-1900
Postmasters: A. Harris & Co. (1859-1871), W. Lydgate [sometimes written as Lidgate] (1879-1886), E. W. Barnard (1888-1900). The post office was located at the Abel Harris plantation in the early years. William Lydgate had the office at his plantation.

Three postal facilities include the name Laupahoehoe. Laupahoehoe itself was split into two parts, one part being at the “Beach,” a lava peninsula jutting out from the North Hilo coast at the foot of Laupahoehoe Valley and below sheer 300 foot cliffs; the other, called the “Hill,” sat atop the cliffs on a plain that ran back toward the mountains. Hilo Road, the north south track taken by the overland mail carriers between Hilo and Kawaihae, ran along the plain and snaked down into the valley and back up to the plain. Laupahoehoe Village began at the mouth of Laupahoehoe valley and spread onto the peninsula. After sugar was planted on the plain above Laupahoehoe in 1880, a population came to live near the plantation office on the Hill. Mail service for the area was by the overland carrier going between Kawaihae and Hilo on the Hilo Road and by steamships landing mail in good weather at Laupahoehoe Landing.

Laupahoehoe post office originally was located on the peninsula at a trading station established there by Abel Harris. In an 1871 financial dust-up, Harris lost his land and left Laupahoehoe. The post office went dormant.

In 1880, Laupahoehoe Sugar Plantation formed. Its mill was built on the peninsula and its office was located on the “Hill.” The Laupahoehoe post office re-opened at the Laupahoehoe Plantation office on the “Hill” with postmaster Lydgate, who also was manager of Laupahoehoe Plantation. Lydgate remained postmaster of the “Hill” post office in the plantation headquarters and manager of the plantation until 1888. The name of this postal facility may have been called Laupahoehoe Plantation to distinguish it from a new post office opened at the Beach in 1884, but in correspondence it was called “the Hill.” It was the revived Laupahoehoe post office. The Laupahoehoe postmarking device type 282.016 was used at the plantation office until 1888. Laupahoehoe Beach post office was located at postmaster Barnard’s store on the peninsula near the mouth of the valley.

The Beach and Hill post offices were consolidated into one in 1888, with Barnard as postmaster and located at his store. The Beach facility took the name Laupahoehoe. At least from 1888 onward, Laupahoehoe post office was at Barnard’s store on the peninsula. The closing of the office on the Hill and the removal of the Laupahoehoe Plantation office to Papaaloa in 1889 prompted most of the Hill population to move to Papaaloa and the opening of a post office at Papaaloa.

Letter volume from this office was about 6,000 letters in 1887 and increased to about 9,000 letters in 1892, but dropped to 4,500 letters in 1894. Stamp sales in 1899 were about $500.

Laupahoehoe Beach, North Hilo District
1884-1888
Postmasters: Judge D. K. Pa (1884), O. Masche (1885-1886) and E. W. Barnard (1886-1888)
This office was at Barnard’s store on the peninsula at the mouth of Laupahoehoe Valley, and was renamed Laupahoehoe in 1888, providing mail service for the peninsula. The population of the Hill community moved to Papaaloa in 1889 when the plantation headquarters moved from Laupahoehoe.
Letter volume was reported under the name of Laupahoehoe.

Laupahoehoe Plantation, North Hilo District
1884-1887
Postmasters: J. M. Lydgate (1884-1886) and E. W. Barnard (1886-1887)
The name Laupahoehoe Plantation refers to the postal operation conducted at the plantation office on the Hill but probably never was used as the name for a post office. The postal facility located at the plantation office on the Hill was the revived Laupahoehoe office. Laupahoehoe postmark type 282.016 was transferred to this facility. The office at the plantation was closed in 1888 and consolidated with Laupahoehoe Beach. Plantation headquarters were moved to Papaaloa in 1889. In an 1889 letter seeking to have a post office at Papaaloa, C McLennan noted that the office was in the plantation office “when in Laupahoehoe but it was discontinued because of its closeness to the one at Laupahoehoe.” With the move of the plantation headquarters in 1889, almost all of the Hill population moved to Papaaloa.
No postmark known, but Laupahoehoe type 282.016 was used at Laupahoehoe Plantation at least in in 1885 and perhaps to 1888.

Mahukona, North Kohala District
"leeward stream"
1881-1900
Postmasters: W. C. Thurman (1881-1882), Joseph P. Sisson (1882-1883), C. E. Stackpole of Wilder & Co. (1884), J. F. MacKenzie (1884-1885), T. H. Wright (1885-1886), Charles K. Stillman (1886-1887) and J. S. Smithies (1887-1900). When the Hawaiian Railroad was built to service the sugar plantations of North Kohala, Mahukona was chosen as the terminus and landing. The place was uninhabited before the Hawaiian Railroad chose Mahukona as its terminal. For the few people who came to work at Mahukona, water had to be brought by train because of the arid climate.

Mahukona postmarks are considerably more numerous than would be suggested for a small population, owing to the fact that Kohala postmaster Smithies opened letter bags going to or from Kohala and marked them, a fact that caused tension with the Kohala folks who suspected Smithies of losing or misdirecting mail for folks he didn’t like. Smithies postmarked letters to or from the more populated places in North Kohala. In 1887, the office sent nearly 11,000 letters with an increase to about 14,000 in 1888 and about 16,000 in 1894, mostly letters from other places. Actual stamp sales at the Mahukona office averaged only about $15 annually. Thus, covers originating at Mahukona are relatively scarce compared to those transiting Mahukona. The Mahukona post office was tied closely to the custom house and S.G. Wilder & Co. office, the postmasters working for one or the other. Wilder & Co, owned and ran the railroad and terminal. A combination custom house/post office was built in 1884. In mid-1894, a fire destroyed the offices, including the post office, but service was restored quickly and the office was rebuilt.

Maunaoni, South Kona District
Informal letter box located along the Kawaihae to Ka'u overland route about 3 miles south of Hookena.

Mountain View, Puna District
1864-1870; 1897-1900
Postmaster: J. W. Mason (1897-1900). In early 1894, A. E. Sutton handled mail at Mountain View and J. W. Mason handled mail there beginning in mid-1894.
Mountain View was a community center for coffee planters in the Olaa region. C.E. Richardson had a store there. In the mid to late 1890s, Mountain View and Olaa, near present day Kurtistown, were part of a Volcano Road “postal service” managed by J.R. Wilson, owner of Volcano Stables in Hilo. Wilson began operating a carriage service from Hilo to Volcano House in 1893, even before the carriage road was completed in 1894. Formally, Wilson was the Olaa postmaster and contractor for mail carriage south of Hilo, including Puna and Ka‘u. Wilson kept Postmaster General Oat and Hilo postmaster Severance apprised of how he managed mail distribution at the places where he left mail. He also picked up mail left at distribution sites and carried it back to Hilo or Olaa to be postmarked. Rather than formal appointments for local postmasters, Wilson’s commission as Olaa postmaster was seen as covering the route and he was left to use his best judgment. Correspondence describing Wilson’s arrangements along Volcano Road sometimes fuse Olaa and Mountain View.

It seems that when Wilson began his carriage service to Volcano House, he left mail in boxes for local coffee planters living along the route and also left mail at Richardson’s store in Mountain View. Wilson then opened a hotel at Mountain View in late 1893. Visitors using his carriages to reach the volcano could stop for refreshments at Wilson’s half-way house at Olaa or at his new hotel at Mountain View. He made his hotel manager at Mountain View, A.E. Sutton, his Mountain View postmaster. Wilson suggested giving Sutton a commission as postmaster, but Oat decided to leave Wilson as postmaster (thus Wilson’s Olaa commission was seen as covering the route). In 1894, Hilo postmaster Severance hired Sutton to become Severance’s postal clerk so Sutton left Mountain View. John Mason, a local coffee planter who lived about ¼ of a mile from the hotel, took over the mail left at Mountain View. In 1897, Wilson sold out and left. Mason was appointed in Wilson’s place for Olaa and also was appointed postmaster at Mountain View.

Naalehu, Ka'u District
"volcano ash"
1886-1900
Postmasters: H. Center (1888-1891), C. Binning (1891-1893), G. S. Patten (1893-1895) and G. C. Hewitt (1895-1900). This office was located at the Hutchison Plantation headquarters and the postmasters were associated with the plantation operations. Center was the manager and his deputy was Binning. Hewitt took over management when Center moved to Spreckelsville, Maui to run the Hawaiian Commercial and Agricultural Co. and become postmaster at Spreckelsville. Mail volume was about 2,000 letters in 1887, about 3,000 letters annually from 1888 to 1892 and about 4,500 letters in 1894. Stamp sales in 1899 were about $500, seventh highest on the island. Mail service was by the overland mail carrier from Hilo to Kawaihae via Kona and by steamships landing mail at Honuapo or Punaluu.

Napoopoo, South Kona District
"deep holes"
1882-1900
Postmasters: S. W. Kino (1884-1894), S. Kekumano (1894-1895), William Kamauhoa (1895-1896), R. Wassman (1896-1900). A landing on the south side of Kealakekua Bay (seen in the foreground of the photograph below) and site of the old mission church, Kahikolu. The original post office located at Napoopoo Landing was called Kealakekua (see listing for Kealakekua) and was run out of Capt. Cummings’s store at the landing. In 1870 the Kealakekua post office moved to the uphill coastal plain and took the post office equipment with it, leaving Napoopoo Landing without any post office until 1883. Steamships landed mail across the Bay at Kaawaloa landing (in the photograph below, Kaawaloa is on the far side of the Bay), Greenwell had them carried uphill to his office and arranged to distribute mail for Napoopoo from there. An office “near the landing” at Napoopoo was run as a “postal agency” starting in 1884. In 1896, the Napoopoo postmaster was removed and Wassman, the Kealakekua postmaster, ran both offices.

Niulii, North Kona District
"small coconut"
1884-1886
No postmark known.

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