DHHL is working to establish interim service and transition lessees to other providers

HONOLULU - Up to 1,500 households on Hawaiian Home Lands are facing a sudden loss of phone and/or internet service provided by Sandwich Isles Communications (SIC). SIC, a private company, announced in an email to customers on May 30 that it would end its service just two days later, on June 1. 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 Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke. “We strongly urge Sandwich Isles Communications to transition Hawaiian Home Lands lessees to alternate service providers in an orderly and responsible process.”

SIC’s apparent plans to disconnect service violates the company’s contract with the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL), which requires SIC to provide reliable service. SIC is also required to continue phone and internet service unless it gives regulators at the FCC and the Hawai?i 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. SIC is facing foreclosure by the federal government due to nonpayment of a major loan.

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

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 webpage at https://dhhl.hawaii.gov/broadband/ including information on:

- 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.