This map is from the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) effort and shows all broadband serviceable locations on Maui. Red areas show unserved locations, blue showcases underserved locations and gray represents served locations.

Nani Lay is an employee at the Hāna Library and said some of their guests come to the library for internet service.

“Between Ke’anae and Hāna, that area is down, so we have a lot of our patrons come from that area to utilize the computers that we have in the library here,” she said.

For rural areas like Hāna in Maui County, internet access can be a challenge. Jolie Jenkins, executive assistant in the office of Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen, said right now, they’re trying to change that.

Jenkins, who helps spearhead the Maui Nui Digital Equity Coalition, a group aimed at solving digital inequity on Maui, said the program recently collected data regarding unserved and underserved areas in the county.

The county collaborated with various nonprofits and community groups, such as the Moloka’i Homestead Farmers Alliance. and the Hāna Business Council, as well as county and state entities, she said, to help pinpoint discrepancies and contribute to the Federal Communications Commission’s National Broadband Mapping Challenge. The effort also helps support the allocation of funding for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program.

And as a result of their investigation, Jenkins said they counted 150 locations that they saw were underserved and unserved that later triggered 7,585 residents to be checked by major service providers such as Hawaiian Telcom and/or Spectrum.

She said by looking at the current reports and seeing possible inconsistencies, they were able to collect data and evidence to highlight more areas that are in need of improvement.

“What they’re reporting isn’t 100% accurate in terms as to what households are served, underserved and unserved,” she said.

She said collecting accurate data can be a challenge, especially for Hawaii’s aging population.

“It was difficult to ask a kūpuna, per se, to go home on their phone, take a speed test three times, and then go online and submit that through a portal,” she said.

And that it’s important for all to stay connected.

“Just being able to stay civically and socially engaged — that’s all super important,” she said.

“I hope that broadband and digital equity remains a priority for all,” she added.

Currently, the hui is focusing away from infrastructure and leaning more toward providing programs that are wrap-around services for people once they have connectivity, including providing devices, training, and security.

Every week the state hui meets on Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. to address and discuss a variety of internet, or broadband, related issues. Residents can learn more about the Maui Nui Broadband initiative and join in by visiting mauinuibroadband.com.

Editor’s note: Information in this article has been updated to ensure accuracy.