KALAHEO — Wayne Wakumoto had less than two hours to catch up with Lyle Kobashigawa of Kaua‘i Kookie Kitchen and Bakery Friday. “I forgot to give him the money,” Wakumoto said, catching up with the eatery located across the parking
KALAHEO — Wayne Wakumoto had less than two hours to catch up with Lyle Kobashigawa of Kaua‘i Kookie Kitchen and Bakery Friday.
“I forgot to give him the money,” Wakumoto said, catching up with the eatery located across the parking lot of the Kalaheo Post Office.
“I leave in about two hours, but they’ve been busy, too. Frank DeLima was in there having breakfast.”
The final departure from the Kalaheo Post Office marked Wakumoto’s retirement from the U.S. Postal Service after 30 years of service.
“His actual last day is Aug. 31, but he’s going to enjoy some of his benefits, so today is his final day,” said Donnell Ruiz who will be replacing Wakumoto as postmaster of the bustling postal station.
Ruiz, who has 11 years with the postal service, arrives from the Waimea Post Office, which is currently being served by a supervisor from the Lihu‘e Post Office.
“When I came in this morning, he had already swept and mopped the floor once,” said Sandy Inouye, a Kalaheo Post Office staff member who celebrates 33 years with the postal service this year. “Even on his last day, he’s working.”
Earlier in the morning, Wakumoto kept platters of refreshments from the Kaua‘i Kookie Kitchen filled, a cell phone glued to one ear to help brush off the commentaries being aired on a local radio station.
“He started as a clerk at the Lihu‘e Post Office,” Inouye said. “Then he had an opportunity to become a city carrier, rising to supervisor and then postmaster when he moved to the Kekaha Post Office.”
From Kekaha, Wakumoto served a stint as postmaster for the Lihu‘e Post Office before serving 10 years as postmaster for the Kalaheo Post Office.
Inouye said in addition to Wakumoto retiring, Audrey Valenciano recently celebrated her retirement from the postal service and Mike Kato, postmaster at the Koloa Post Office, will be retiring at the end of August.
Diane Higa, the postmistress at the Anahola Post Office, is also scheduled for retirement at the end of September.
Joining Ruiz and Inouye at the Kalaheo Post Office are Roberta Rita, Ori Soto and Denise Morrison.
