Gov. Green signs Emergency Proclamation to avoid loss of telecommunications on Hawaiian Home Lands

Gov. Josh Green, M.D. signed an Emergency Proclamation Friday to avoid loss of telecommunications services for hundreds of Hawaiian Home Lands households across the state.

On May 30, 2024, Sandwich Isle Communications, a private company that provides phone and internet services to many customers on Hawaiian Home Lands, announced through an email to customers that services would cease on June 1, 2024.

The termination of services could leave approximately 1,500 households and several business, schools, and other institutions on Hawaiian Home Lands without phone and/or internet services, according to department officials.

“We must ensure that our communities remain connected to critical services, including emergency medical, police and fire services” Green said in a news release. “Providers carry a responsibility to maintain services for their customers.”

“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 Emergency Proclamation directs all state agencies to assist in the effort keep continuity of service and orders telecommunication providers to prevent any disruption or interruption of telecommunication and broad and services.

The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands issued a statement saying it is grateful to the governor for the Emergency Proclamation.

“This action will allow DHHL and other agencies to more rapidly assist affected households and businesses on Hawaiian Home Lands. The proclamation will allow DHHL to more swiftly procure technology, extend telecommunications infrastructure, and work with alternate service providers to reestablish phone and internet service for the customers SIC has disconnected,” DHHL said in a statement.

DHHL continues to urge SIC customers to immediately sign up for service with a new provider. Since May 24, the department has been posting updates and information about switching providers at dhhl.hawaii.gov/broadband/

The Hawai‘i Public Utilities also issued a notice of violation to Sandwich Isles Communications and ordered it: “not to terminate service to customers and to continue service to its customers without disruption or reduction in quality; to maintain and preserve its equipment in good working order; and to maintain and preserve customer records.”

“Sandwich Isles Communication failed to provide timely notice to the Public Utilities Commission of its intent to abandon or discontinue service, as required by commission rules and regulations,” said Public Utilities Commission Chair, Leo Asuncion in a news release. “In line with the Emergency Proclamation issued by Gov. Josh Green, M.D., the commission is also concerned that the company may be engaging in conduct that is detrimental to the public interest,”

The commission scheduled a show cause hearing for June 17.