(BIVN) – Hawaiʻi residents have until December 18 to mail items to the U.S. Mainland, if using First-Class and Priority mail, or December 20 using expedited Priority Express, the U.S. Postal Service says.

The USPS provided the suggested the Hawaiʻi-specific holiday mailing dates in a recent news release.

Mailing their letters, cards and packages before the suggested dates will give them the best chances of reaching their destinations by Christmas, USPS officials say.

The busiest part of the holiday mailing season begins two weeks before Christmas. Customer traffic at Hawaiʻi post offices is expected to accelerate beginning the week of December 9. The week of December 16 will be the busiest week of the season.

From the USPS news release:

Postal customers are asked to keep in mind that the above suggested mailing dates are not deadlines, implying that packages or letters will not arrive at their destinations if mailed after the listed dates. In fact, if normal holiday conditions prevail, chances are good that letters and packages sent shortly after the suggested dates will still make it to their destinations before Christmas. Ultimately, unpredictable factors such as mailing volumes and weather determine whether deliveries can be made early or on time.

The USPS provided these time- and money-saving tips:

• Save $$$ with FLAT RATE BOXES: Priority Mail Flat Rate Boxes are the best deal around. Customers can send up to 70 pounds in Medium Flat Rate Boxes to domestic locations for only $19.30 An even better deal is the Large Flat Rate Box, which holds 50 percent more (with the same 70-pound limit) for only $22.80. And, to support our military troops overseas, up to 70 pounds can be shipped in the military Large Flat Rate Box to most APO and FPO locations for only $26.00.
• Save time; Use USPS.com: Pay for your postage and print out your mailing label at USPS.com. After printing out the mailing labels for your packages at USPS.com, notify us at usps.com/pickup that they’re ready to be picked up. Your carrier will be alerted and will pick up your packages from your home or office, usually the next business day. There is no extra charge for this service. You can also drop off your prepaid packages at a Post Office without waiting in line.
• FREE insurance: All Priority Mail and Priority Express envelopes and boxes now include day-specific delivery, improved tracking and FREE insurance.
• FREE packaging: Priority Mail envelopes and boxes and Priority Express envelopes are available for FREE at your local Post Office.
• Express Mail on Christmas Day: The Postal Service delivers Express Mail on Christmas Day in major U.S. metropolitan areas. Ask your local postal clerk to determine whether this option is available for your holiday packages.

USPS Operation Santa

Keiki from across Hawaii are encouraged to participate in the USPS Operation Santa wish fulfillment program.

• The program allows volunteers to “adopt” letters and fulfill Christmas wishes by sending gifts in Santa’s place.
• To participate in the program, all keiki need to do is write a letter to Santa, put it in a stamped envelope with a return address & send it to the USPS Operation Santa address: Santa Claus, 123 Elf Road, North Pole 88888
• Letters writers must stamp and address their letters correctly and include a return address. They should list specific wishes—including sizes, styles, colors, titles & names
• Letters must be postmarked by Dec. 9. Letters are available for adoption beginning Nov. 18 and through Dec. 16.
• Hawaii residents are encouraged to go online and adopt a letter to help a child have a happy holiday. Letters can be filtered by state.
• Details on how to adopt a Santa letter and a history of the program are available at USPSOperationSanta.com