North and west of Oahu lie the islands of Kauai and Niihau, the latter privately owned
even today. These islands were never brought under the control of Kamehameha I by force.
Finally, by treaty, the king of Kauai agreed to become part of Kamehameha's kingdom.
Kauai, mostly lush and wet, was dubbed the "Garden Isle" by 19th Century voyagers in
search of vegetables and fruits to replenish supplies. Niihau was known then for its
sweet potatoes. Kauai's center is a region of steep, wet cliffs climbing to a summit
thought to be the wettest place on earth. All of the population has always lived along
the coastal plains or in rugged valleys along the northwest coast.
Except for the impassable cliffs of the northwest Napali Coast, Kauai is easily traveled
if one stays to the coast. Kauai is small compared to Hawaii or Maui so a rider on
horseback could make it from the north end to the south end in good time. By 1875,
Whitney wrote in his Guide to Hawaii that a light vehicle could be driven the 65 miles
from Hanalei to Mana Point, via Lihue. Schooners frequently operated between the main
harbors at Waimea, Nawiliwili and Hanalei on Kauai and Honolulu on Oahu. Steamer
service was spotty until the 1880's when Nawiliwili and Hanalei became weekly stops.
For discussions of overland routes and sea routes for these islands, see
Routes and Post Offices
under Local and Inter-island Mail.
POST OFFICES
Customs collectors were appointed for three harbors on Kauai, beginning with Hanalei in
1846 and followed by Waimea (1850) and Koloa (1856). The first post office for the
island, apart from customs collectors who were ex officio postmasters at their ports,
was at Nawiliwili, the harbor for the Lihue District. The first Nawiliwili post office
actually was at Judge Bond's house near Lihue, but was moved to the harbor where it could
be of better service. In 1856, post offices were opened at Waimea and Hanalei when
postal duties were transferred from the customs collector to appointed post masters at
those towns. Also in 1856, post offices were opened at Koloa and Anahola. A sixth post
office was opened at Hanapepe in 1858. The 1860's saw some retrenchment on Kauai as on
other islands because of the loss of income from the whaling industry. Hanapepe office
closed in 1866 and Anahola closed in 1869. A post office existed for a short time at
Moloaa (1864-1870) and a new office was opened at Lihue (1868). In 1870, the post
office at Nawiliwili was closed and its operation was absorbed by the Lihue office.
Thus, at the end of 1870, Kauai had four post offices: Hanalei, Koloa, Lihue and
Waimea.
One office, at Kilauea, was opened in 1877, so Kauai had five offices at 1880, but a
sixth office, at Kapaa, was opened that year and a seventh office, at Kekaha, was opened
in 1882. Kauai had eight offices in 1890 when the office at Makaweli was opened that
year. In the 1890's, one office (Kapaa) was closed in 1893 and replaced by a new office
(Kealia), Hanapepe re-opened (1893) and new offices were opened at Mana (1893) and
Eleele (1899). Kauai thus had eleven offices open at 1900.
Niihau had no post offices. However, the Sinclair family kept postage stamps on hand to
use on any mail sent from the island via Waimea on Kauai. Mrs. Sinclair resided on the
island from 1863 to 1876. Mail service for the island was arranged by the postmaster at
Waimea until 1873, when the Sinclair family took over the job of arranging a boat.
POSTMARKS
Back to 
