Postcards might be nice to receive but theyre all a bit samey arent they: a beach, a landmark, photography that can be achieved on an iPhone.
So one Hawaiian post office is upping their game.
Instead of a glossy little card, the Hoolehua Post Office on the island of Molokai decorates coconuts and sends it out to people all over the world.
Theyve called the concept post-a-nut and its very popular with tourists.
Wouldnt you love to receive a nut?
The branchs unique programme has historical significance too.
It was launched in 1991 by then-Post Master Margaret Leary who needed to generate revenue to keep the Hoolehua and Kualapuu post offices open.
Now around 3,000 coconuts each year are mailed from the tiny PO, to all corners of the world, except for New Zealand and Australia, whose governments have stricter regulations on foreign produce imports.
Customers are encouraged to find a suitable nut to make the journey, and locals often donate fallen ones they find on their properties.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Look for a nice outer surface, then wipe and dust them down, advises Roxanne Tancyo, Post Master at the Hoolehua Post Office.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has given Roxanne an official certification to be an inspector for the nuts – to make sure they are safe to send in the mail.
I look for bug holes and growths, she adds.
If there are no bug holes and nothing sprouting out of the coconut then its good to go go.
More: Travel
Once the inspection is complete the nuts are stamped with a USDA confirmation and customers can decorate them as they please.
People dont usually like to spend time in the post office, but people seem to really enjoy hanging out at ours, said Roxanne.
Give them a coconut and some marker pens they will stay for hours sometimes.
Then we place the variety of stamps on the coconut to make them fit. Its an authentic bit of Molokai to send to their friends.
