POST OFFICE IN PARADISE - Island of Hawaii Postmarks, Part 3: Keaau to Niulii

This page last updated: 15 April 2009

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

Cover bearing Laupahoehoe 291.01 dated December 27, 1899. Strikes of Laupahoehoe type 291.01 postmark are scarce, but covers bearing full strikes are rare, with fewer than ten thought to exist.

Keaau, Puna District
"hindering current"
1899-1900
Postmaster: Peter Lee (1899-1900)
Camp for the Olaa Plantation.

255.9a1
29mm double lined circle
Color: Purple
Rarity: 1RRRR, three strikes recorded
Usage: June 8, 1899 to January 17, 1900
Two strikes, one on cover, are in my collection.
Added by Burns in 1972.

August 4, 1899

January 17, 1900, LKU

Keaiwa, Ka'u District
"the mystery" [Pukui]; "the brave" [Davey]
1860-1869; 1878-1880
Postmasters: F. Lyman (1860-1869), G. W. Willfong (1878), W. Goodale (1879-1880).
About 500 2¢ stamps were used annually.

801
manuscript
Keaiwa
Rarity: 1RR
Noted on Scott No. 31

Courtesy of Anon Y. Mouse

802
manuscript
Keaiwa/
P. O./
Kau
Rarity: 1RR
Noted on Scott No. 31
A variation without the word Ka'u is noted
One strike is in my collection

Kealakekua, South Kona District
"path of the gods"
1856-1900
Postmasters: P. Cummings (1857-1866), J. R. Mitchell (1866), sheriff Richard B. Neville (1865-1868), Alex Smith (1868-1870), H. N. Greenwell (1870-1891), Rev. S. N. Davis (1891-1894) and R. Wassman (1894-1900). Located variously at Napoopoo on the coast or uphill at Kainaliu (sometimes called "Hudsonville") and Kealakekua (sometimes called Kaawaloa).

282.016
33mm double lined outer circle and single lined inner circle; 10 ray sunburst
Colors: Purple, Black
Scarcity: 3
Usage: February 9, 1883 to June 28, 1891
Note the semi-colon following "Kealakekua."
Six strikes, four on cover, are in my collection.

September 14, 1883

282.011
33mm double lined outer circle and single lined inner circle
Color: Purple
Estimated: 7
Usage: April __, 1891 to August 27, 1897

April 6, 1896

281.02
30mm double lined outer circle and single lined inner circle
Color: Purple
Estimated: 7
Usage: August 19, 1895 to June 7, 1900

November 7, 1898

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 in charge of 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 sent about 3,000 to 4,000 letters annually from 1887 to 1894, but had stamp sales of only about $45 in 1899.

802
manuscript
Keauhou P. O.
Rarity: 1RRRR
Noted on Scott No. 31

no image available

282.013
32mm double lined outer circle and single lined inner circle; the circle became broken below the "K" before 1890
Color: Purple, Blue, Red
Estimated: 6
Usage: March 8, 1883 to April 10, 1899
Blue is noted January 31, 1889; purple from May 30, 1891 to March 3, 1899

May 30, 1890

Kohala, North Kohala District
a name for the Pandanus tree
1858-1900
Postmasters: Rev. E. Bond (1858-1877), Dr. J. Wight (1878-1884), A. Wight (acting, March, 1879 to July, 1879), H. P. Wood (1884-1885), 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 variously at Iole (to 1878), Halawa (to about 1884-1887) and Kapaau (from about 1884-1887), all in North Kohala. The office was moved to 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.

802
803
manuscript, some with date
Kohala/
P. O./
date
Rarity: 1RR
Noted on Scott No. 31
One strike is in my collection, on cover.

December 18, 1869

238.02
30mm single outer circle
Color: Black
Scarcity: 2
Usage: August __, 1878 to May __, 1883
Seven strikes, two on cover, are in my collection.

May 14, 1881

282.013 (I)
33mm double lined outer circle and single lined inner circle; in type I, Kohala letters are 3.5mm high and 5mm wide
Color: Purple
Scarcity: 3
Usage: June 1, 1883 to June __, 1888
Colors range to a very dark, blackish purple
Fourteen strikes, three on cover, are in my collection.

April 24, 1886

281.013
30mm double lined outer circle and single lined inner circle
Color: Purple, Black, Blue
Estimated: 6
Usage: September __, 1886 to December __, 1891
I note a purple strike on February 25, 1887, black from January to March, 1888, purple again in September, 1888, blue in September and October, 1889. All other strikes in my collection are purple.

March 24, 1888

282.011
33mm double lined outer circle and single lined inner circle
Color: Purple, Blue
Estimated: 8
Usage: January __, 1892 to May __, 1900
The date is often oriented oddly.

December 29, 1894

282.013 (II)
33mm double lined outer circle and single lined inner circle; in type II, Kohala letters are 2.5mm high and 3mm wide
Color: Purple
Estimated: 8
Usage: March 7, 1895 to October 9, 1900; a January, 1884 strike is reported, but I suspect it is in error.

February 27, 1896

254.018
254.9a18
28mm double lined circle; many strikes fail to print the dots and later strikes are single lined
Color: Purple, Black
Estimated: 6
Usage: February __, 1897 to June __, 1900
Black noted October, 1897 to January, 1898.
Davey/Bash listed type 235.01 and Burns added type 236.018 in 1972. In 1988, he replaced type 235.01 with type 253.01 and replaced type 236.018 with type 254.018. I believe type 254.018 includes all of the strikes listed as 235.01, 253.01 or 236.018 from Kohala so I list only it.

October 13, 1897

duplex

Kukuihaele, Hamakua District
"traveling lights" [Pukui]; "moving Kukui trees" [Davey]
1880-1900
Postmasters: Dr. Trousseau (1880-1882), W. Hookuanui (1883-1885), W. Horner (1885-1900).

282.01
32mm double lined outer circle and single lined inner circle
Color: Purple, Blue, Black
Scarcity: 4
Usage: March __, 1883 to December 11, 1891
Town letters are 4mm tall
Blue is noted September 7, 1887 and October 2, 1883, black from February 3, 1888 to April 6, 1891
On January 6, 1888, the PM sent the "case of type for the office stamps" to Honolulu for replacement, but it was repaired and returned. In January, 1892, he again sent it to Honolulu and requested a replacement.
Nine strikes, two on cover, are in my collection.

October 2, 1883

282.011
32mm double lined outer circle and single lined inner circle
Color: Purple
Scarcity: 2
Usage: December __, 1891 (noted on cover with Honolulu duplex dated December 19, 1891) to ?__, 1893
Misspelled "Kukuihaeli"; town letters are 3mm tall and tightly spaced
This device was received January 12, 1892, and by September, 1892, the postmaster complained about the illegible date type. It is known used into 1893 with unclear dates.
Four strikes are in my collection.

date is illegible

281.02
30mm double lined outer circle and single lined inner circle
Color: Purple
Estimated: 7
Usage: October __, 1892 to May __, 1900

April 13, 1900

Laupahoehoe, North Hilo District
"smooth lava tongue"
1859-1871; 1880-1884; 1888-1900
Postmasters: A. Harris & Co. (1859-1860), W. Lydgate (route agent, 1879, postmaster, 1880-1884), 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. The office was located on the spit of lava at the shore from 1884-1888 (See Laupahoehoe Beach), but otherwise was located uphill along the overland mail route.
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.

860
LAUP/
HILO
a sort of crude oval without an outer line
Rarity: 1RRRR two strikes known

Lot 116 from Sotheby-Parke Bernet Catalogue of Ryohei Ishikawa Hawaii Sale.
See Ishikawa Hawaii Sale, lots 116 and 146 (the stamp shown on cover in lot 146 was added and did not originate on the cover)

802
manuscript
PO/Laupahoehoe/date
Rarity: 1RRRR
Noted on Boston Lithograph stamps and on Scott No. 31

Courtesy of Eric A. Glohr

803
manuscript
Laupahoehoe/date
Rarity: 1RRRR
Noted on Boston Lithograph stamps and on Scott No. 31

No image available.

282.016
33mm double lined outer circle and single lined inner circle
Color: Purple, Blue
Scarcity: 3
Usage: April 20, 1883 to November 20, 1890
Four strikes are in my collection. I have a blue strike on October 13, 1890.

May 13, 1888

282.011
33mm double lined outer circle and single lined inner circle
Color: Purple, Blue, Black
Estimated: 7
Usage: September __, 1891 to June 28, 1899
Black is reported on a June 5, 1893 strike.
I have blue strikes from September, 1892 to July, 1894 and purple thereafter.

September, 26, 1892

281.01
30mm double lined outer circle and single lined inner circle
Color: Purple, Blue
Estimated: 7
Usage: February __, 1896 to November 2, 1899
Blue is noted April 9, 1896.
The year date often is illegible, particularly in the early years. The purple ink comes in a variety of shades from reddish to blackish.

October 26, 1896

291.01
41mm double lined outer circle and single lined inner circle, with serrated outer circle
Color: Purple, Black
Scarcity: 3
Usage: July 21, 1899 to December 27, 1899
Nine strikes are in my collection, including two on cover. I have a black strike on December 27, 1899.

December 27, 1899

255.01
29mm double lined circle
Color: Purple
Scarcity: 4
Usage: November __, 1899 to June __, 1900
Five strikes are in my collection.

March 16, 1900

Laupahoehoe Beach, North Hilo District
1884-1888
Postmasters: Judge D. K. Pa (1884), O. Masche (1885-1886) and E. W. Barnard (1886-1888)
Letter volume was reported under the name of Laupahoehoe.

282.04
33mm double lined circle and single lined inner circle
Color: Purple, Black, Red
Scarcity: 3
Usage: May 7, 1885 to December __, 1888
Black is noted on May 7, 1885.
Ten strikes are in my collection, including one cover. I note black strikes in February, 1887, April, 1887 and March, 1888 and a red strike on Scott 43 in September but the year date is not visible on this partial strike.

August 24, 1886

Laupahoehoe Plantation, North Hilo District
1884-1887
Postmasters: J. M. Lydgate (1884-1886) and E. W. Barnard (1886-1887) This office was located at Papaaloa, the headquarters of Laupahoehoe Plantation, while the Laupahoehoe office was located at the shore.
No postmark known.

Mahukona, North Kohala District
"leeward stream"
1881-1900
Postmasters: W. C. Thurman (1881-1882), C. E. Stackpole of Wilder & Co. (1883), J. F. MacKenzie (1883-1885), T. E. Wright (1885-1886) 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. It was so arid, water was brought in by train for the few people here and before the Hawaiian Railroad, there was nothing there. Mahukona postmarks are considerably more numerous than would be suggested for this place because the office postmarked many letters in transit 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.

804
manuscript
Mahukona, H. I./date
Rarity: 1RRRR
One strike noted on Scott No. 35 cover

Courtesy of Gary Peters

282.016
33mm double lined circle and single lined inner circle
Color: Purple, Red, Black
Estimated: 6
Usage: October 18, 1882 to May 20, 1896
Black is noted in February, 1884 and September, 1888. I have a red strike dated July 30, 1884, then black strikes from August 29, 1887 to October 6, 1887, then purple from December 30, 1887 to March 7, 1895, then red again from April 8, 1895 to July 11, 1895 and purple again from August, 1895 to May 20, 1896. The dates are illegible in the middle years. On January 28, 1891, postmaster Smithies complained about the failure of the dates to print.

March 9, 1888
Bluish-purple

282.011
33mm double lined circle and single lined inner circle
Color: Purple, Black
Scarcity: 4
Usage: September __, 1889 to February 23, 1894
Eleven strikes are in my collection. I am uncertain about the black ink color noted for this mark.

October 10, 1893

281.01
30mm double lined circle and single lined inner circle
Color: Purple, Red, Blue
Estimated: 7
Usage: August __, 1894 to November __, 1899
Red noted from March 13, 1897 to December, 1897; dark blue noted October, 1894.

August 3, 1896

253.01
27mm double lined circle
Color: Purple, Red
Estimated: 5
Usage: November 13, 1897 to May 11, 1900
Red is noted in November, 1897.
Late strikes have single lined outer circles.

December 23, 1898

255.01
29mm double lined circle
Color: Purple
Scarcity: 2
Usage: November 21, 1899 to June __, 1900
Three strikes are in my collection.

March 20, 1900

Mountain View, Puna District
1864-1870; 1899-1900
Exactly what kind of office, if any, was located here from 1864 to 1870 is unclear. Official records, including records of stamp distribution to country offices, make no mention of this office. Half-way houses on the road from Hilo to Volcano House were located here. In 1899-1900, an unofficial postal agency was operated here by J. W. Mason, the Olaa postmaster.

803
manuscript
Mt. View/date
Rarity: 1RRRR
Usage: June 28, 1894
Noted on Scott No. 75
One strike is known

Courtesy of Gary Peters

Naalehu, Ka'u District
"volcano ash"
1886-1900
Postmasters: H. Center (1893-1891), 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.

282.011
33mm double lined circle and single lined inner circle; the shape is more oval than round although some strikes may appear more round than oval
Color: Purple, Blue
Estimated: 5
Usage: January 10, 1891 to August __, 1897

March 27, 1891,

January 13, 1896
oval shape

253.9a1
27mm double lined circle; with a duplex target cancel
Color: Purple
Estimated: 5
Usage: November 24, 1897 to March __, 1900

November 7, 1898

255.01
29mm double lined circle
Color: Purple
Rarity: 1RRRR, two strikes recorded
Usage: May 4, 1900 to June __, 1900
Two strikes are in my collection.

May 4, 1900

Napoopoo, South Kona District
"deep holes"
1882-1900
Postmasters: S. W. Kino (1883-1894), S. Kekumano (1894-1895), R. Wassman (1897-1900). This village on the coast at Kealakekua Bay was the site of the original Kealakekua post office. In 1857, the place was virtually deserted but it served as the landing for the populated upland district. When the Kealakekua office moved uphill in 1883, the office here was re-named to Napoopoo. In 1897, this office was put under the administration of the Kealakekua office.

801
manuscript
Napoopoo/P. O.
Rarity: 1RRRR
Noted on Scott No. 31

No image available

282.01
33mm double lined circle and single lined inner circle
Color: Purple
Rarity: 1RRR, six strikes are recorded
Usage: September __, 1883 to September __, 1896
Three strikes are in my collection.

April 29, 1886

282.011
33mm double lined circle and single lined inner circle
Color: Purple, Black
Scarcity: 4
Usage: September 18, 1894 to October 7, 1896
Ten strikes are in my collection. Early strikes are in black to December, 1894.

October 7, 1896

253.01
27mm double lined circle; later strikes have a single lined circle
Color: Purple
Estimated: 6
Usage: August 31, 1896 to May __, 1900

October 7, 1896
Double lined strike

Date failed but other marks show it to be August 2, 1897

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

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