The U.S. Postal Service in Hawaii is suggesting dates for Hawaii residents to mail their letters, cards and packages to give those items the best chances of reaching their destinations by Christmas. The dates apply to the mail received by each post office’s daily cutoff time.

The suggested dates are Dec. 6 for first class and priority mail headed to international and overseas military destinations, and Dec. 17 for first class and priority mail headed to the mainland. Procrastinators have until Dec. 20 to send items to the mainland via the Postal Service’s Priority Express shipping service.

USPS said the suggested mailing dates are not deadlines and that if normal holiday conditions prevail, chances are good that letters and packages sent shortly after the suggested dates still will make it to their destinations before Christmas.

Only one Hawaii post office will provide extended retail hours this year — the Honolulu main post office near the airport. It will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 16.