A map from the DHHL Moloka’i Regional Plan 2019 showing Department of Hawaiian Homelands on the island. Photo courtesy

Michael Gomes said being from and living on Moloka’i, he and other residents have had to endure many challenges when it comes to having access to quality internet services.

“I myself do not have home internet service,” he said. “I only have what is available on my mobile phone and I’m able to turn on my hotspot if I need internet on my tablet or laptop. Many times though the internet gets spotty and throttled in high peak times or if I go over certain thresholds of my monthly allowance.”

Gomes is one multiple Moloka’i residents who for years have struggled with internet access.

Earlier this year, Sandwich Isles Communications, the telecommunications company that provides telephone and broadband services to the Department of Hawaiian Homelands, terminated its services, leaving many homesteaders on Moloka’i without internet access.

Gomes remembers the incident well.

“That’s when Hawaiian Telcom stepped up some of its services to finally start fixing broken phone lines that have been neglected and hanging from telephone poles or draped over peoples’ properties for years,” he said. “Slowly but surely internet was coming online, but it isn’t available to everyone on DHHL homesteads. Much of our homesteaders are without internet services due to lack of functional infrastructure. Some of us also have homes and we live off-grid and definitely no internet service is available. And by chance if it could be available, it’s extremely costly.”

Fellow Moloka’i resident John Puaoi said another issue for homesteaders gaining internet access deals with address recognition.

“They often have two addresses — a lot number and a county address — but both are not always recognized when trying to order internet service, which leaves the people without internet,” he said.

But all that may change soon. This week the DHHL announced it received a $72 million grant from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program.

According to a press release, the grant, along with a $17 million grant the DHHL received from NTIA earlier this year, provides a total of $89 million to expand broadband internet access to thousands of underserved households on Hawaiian home lands by funding new telecommunications infrastructure, workforce development programs and digital equity initiatives for DHHL lessees.

Hawai’i state Sen. Lynn DeCoite was on Moloka’i the day after the announcement, where DHHL was hosting a meeting with lessees to discuss the issue.

She said she’s pleased the investment is happening sooner rather than later so that children on the island do not get left behind in the digital divide.

“I’m confident it’s going to move forward and that it’s happening. This is super important,” she said.

Gomes said the conversation and the investment is much needed on the friendly isle.

“In my honest opinion, we definitely need to improve broadband and internet service,” he said. “Hopefully, DHHL will utilize the $72 million funds wisely and give more homesteaders much-needed internet access in the coming months.”

“The TBCP grant will enable DHHL to bring high-speed internet, digital education programs, and new community centers to our homesteads across the pae ʻāina,” DHHL Director Kali Watson said in a press release.

He added: “It’s more than just connectivity; it’s about opening doors to opportunity, through education, employment and access to health care and other essential services. Mahalo to our federal partners at NTIA for supporting this vision.”

For more information on broadband service upgrades throughout Hawai’i, visit connectkakou.org.