I mailed a book out to Hawaii. How I wish I would've searched the forum before I mailed it, I should've sent it first class. I didn't and it will time out soon. I don't think it will make it before being marked lost. I have tracking and it's been in California for awhile. In a case like this, if it is marked lost and then she does get i (I believe that will happen) can she still mark it as received and I get credit? I haven't contacted her except after I mailed it with the tracking number so she could track her book if she wished to. 

The worst part is I feel pretty stupid, on my own I should've thought to send it first class.At least I can keep that in mind for the future.

Thanks!

No need to feel stupid - and no need to incur the extra first class expense. It's just a fact that media mail to Hawaii is slow. Very often books will "go lost" according to PBS, but then they will arrive a week or two after that. The receiver can go to their transaction archive when they receive the book and mark it received there. Then you will get your credit.

So, after it is marked lost (if it gets to that point) you can just keep an eye on the tracking, and when it is delivered, if it doesn't get marked received within a few days (and most members in Hawaii are well aware to do if from their archive), send the receiver a PM then.
 

Thank you Mistie !

I wouldn't worry about it, either, as most members in Hawaii (and Alaska for that matter too) know how to mark received from the transaction archive, as it's not uncommon for books to arrive after they've gone lost.

No need to worry.  As already mentioned, a member in Hawaii is probably very aware of the time involved and knows how to mark it received from their archive if necessary.  Do keep an eye on Tracking, but all will probably go well.  I've noticed (on average) that Hawaii books frequently arrive just before the lost date, or within a week of going lost.
 

Also, remember that packages must weigh less than 13 oz to be mailed first class. If 13 oz or greater, it has to to go either media mail or priority mail. Priority mail costs significantly more to send, so media mail is the way to go for heavier packages. As already stated by others, members in Hawaii are likely well aware of the slow mail problem and know about marking books received from their transaction archive.

I recenly received a book sent Media Mail from Hawaii.  Took a month to get to me so it was really close to the lost in the mail deadline but it made it!