HONOLULU — On Friday, Gov. Josh Green signed an emergency proclamation to avoid the loss of telecommunications services for many Hawaiian Home Lands households throughout the state.
Sandwich Isle Communications, a private company providing phone and internet services to customers on Hawaiian Home Lands, emailed customers on Thurs., May 30, that their services would end on June 1, according to a news release.
The termination would have left roughly 1,500 households including businesses, schools and other institutions on Hawaiian Home Lands without phone and internet services.
“We must ensure that our communities remain connected to critical services, including emergency medical, police and fire services,” stated Green in the release. “Providers carry a responsibility to maintain services for their customers.”
Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke said, “It is unacceptable that Sandwich Isles Communications is planning to disconnect the services that its customers depend on with so little notice. We strongly urge Sandwich Isles Communications to transition Hawaiian Home Lands lessees to alternate service providers in an orderly and responsible process.”
With the signing of the proclamation, all state agencies are directed to assist in the effort to maintain services and orders telecommunication providers to prevent disruption or interruption of telecommunication services to households situated on Hawaiian Home Lands.
On the same day Green signed the emergency proclamation, Spectrum announced the launch of Spectrum Voice services for homes and small businesses on Hawaiian Home Lands. The company also offers Spectrum Internet, Mobile and TV to households on Hawaiian Home Lands.
“Spectrum has launched Spectrum Voice to keep customers on the Hawaiian Home Lands connected,” said Spectrum Senior Vice President Gregg Fujimoto in a news release. “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 Hawaii-based technicians.”
People can call 808-582-6146 to sign up for Spectrum Voice.
Charter Communications is the parent company of Spectrum Mobile and Spectrum News.
Editor’s note: The article has been updated to include information of the launch of Spectrum Voice for HHL households. (June 1, 2024)