Private telecommunication service to Department of Hawaiian Homelands ends June 1 : Big Island Now

Up to 1,500 households on Hawaiian Home Lands are set to lose phone and/or internet service provided by Sandwich Isles Communications starting June 1.

The private company, which is facing foreclosure by the federal government due to nonpayment of a major loan, sent an email to customers on Thursday announcing it would be ending its service. Affected parties are located throughout the state and include many households in remote communities.

“Reliable phone and internet service is a lifeline for our communities. It is unacceptable that Sandwich Isles Communications is planning to disconnect the services that its customers depend on with so little notice,” said Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke. “We strongly urge Sandwich Isles Communications to transition Hawaiian Home Lands lessees to alternate service providers in an orderly and responsible process.”

The company’s apparent plans to disconnect service violates its contract with the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, which requires SIC to provide reliable service, according to a press release from DHHL.

SIC is also required to continue phone and internet service unless it gives regulators at the FCC and the Hawaiʻi PUC advance notice that it is unable to do so – and receives permission to stop services. DHHL is not aware of any such notifications to these agencies – and is working with these agencies to formulate a response. DHHL will continue to provide updates as the situation unfolds.

SIC has had multiple opportunities to work with DHHL and alternate service providers to keep services on for its customers. Unfortunately, SIC has chosen its current course of action instead. DHHL is working to ensure minimal disruption to affected beneficiaries.

Eligibility for government programs offering free and low-cost residential service Information for affected businesses on Hawaiian Home Lands An SIC service outage would also affect DHHL’s phone service. To continue providing help to lessees, the department has established an interim call center for lessees at 808-570-4883. Lessees may also email [email protected] for assistance.

In recent days, DHHL started a public campaign urging beneficiaries who receive service from SIC to immediately switch to another provider to avoid losing service. Residential customers should contact alternative service providers to determine if service is available at their address:

Hawaiian Telcom
www.hawaiiantel.com
Phone: 808-475-8469

Spectrum
www.spectrum.com/services/hawaii
Phone: 855-860-9068

On Friday, Spectrum announced the launch of Spectrum Voice services to homes and small businesses on the Hawaiian Home Lands. Current residential Spectrum Internet customers are being offered Spectrum Voice for $14.99 for 12 months.

Spectrum currently offers Spectrum Internet with speeds up to 1 Gig, Spectrum Mobile, and Spectrum TV to thousands on the Hawaiian Home Lands.

“Spectrum has launched Spectrum Voice to keep customers on the Hawaiian Home Lands connected,” said Gregg Fujimoto, Senior Vice President, Spectrum. “Today, customers can receive Spectrum’s high-value broadband, mobile, TV and voice delivering superior connectivity at highly competitive prices, backed by a team of skilled Hawai’i-based technicians.”

SIC Customers outside the service areas for Hawaiian Telcom and Spectrum may wish to consider satellite service providers such as Starlink or Dish.

Additional resources and ongoing updates are available at the department’s Broadband Program at https://dhhl.hawaii.gov/broadband/.