Hawaiian Telcom invests in new training center and Fioptics-branded vehicles 

Hawaiian Telcom has a new training center in Hālawa and freshly branded vehicles, both of which were unveiled Tuesday during a dedication ceremony.

Hawaiian Telcom invested $15 million in its new Hālawa Training Center and more than 100 new Fioptics-branded vehicles for every island to support Hawaiian Telcom’s ongoing statewide fiber expansion.

“To achieve internet access for all of Hawai’i, we must invest not only in reliable infrastructure but also in a skilled workforce to expand our fiber network. Hawaiian Telcom’s new training center will help build up our workforce and significantly contribute to our state’s internet expansion efforts under the Connect Kākou initiative,” said Lt. Governor Sylvia Luke. 

“We’re in an exciting expansion phase at Hawaiian Telcom. As we continue to invest in expanding our future-proof fiber network, we’re also investing in our employees, ensuring that our team members continue to do their jobs safely and serve our community effectively,” said Hawaiian Telcom President Su Shin. “These investments in our new training facility and in our fleet of vehicles are crucial to our fiber expansion, especially as we prepare to launch new services statewide.”

Kahu Wendell Davis conducted a traditional Hawaiian blessing and dedication ceremony of Hawaiian Telcom’s Hālawa center with fresh maile lei placed throughout the multi-building site.

Hawaiian Telcom invested $2 milllion to acquire and transform the nearly 15,000-square-foot site near the top of Iwaena Street into a one-stop training center for Hawaiian Telcom’s technicians and construction teams statewide. 

Pole-climbing classes will take place in an area where Hawaiian Telcom erected multiple 30-foot poles to provide hands-on training for technicians to safely climb and descend poles when they are in the field. In another area, Hawaiian Telcom created a simulated residential space so the technicians can practice drilling into floors from crawl spaces, from the ceiling in attics or between walls to properly install fiber-optic cables.

Also this year, more than 100 Hawaiian Telcom Fioptics-branded vehicles are rolling out on all islands, the result of a $13 million investment. New trucks, vans and utility vehicles display a unique message for Fioptics fiber internet with a color palette and design that work in harmony to create a memorable visual identity, and differentiate it from other brands in Hawai‘i.

To improve efficiency, Hawaiian Telcom also implemented a fleet management system that will enable faster reporting of performance issues, logging mileage and making service appointments via a mobile device. This system eliminates paper forms, supporting the company’s commitment to sustainability.

Since 2010, Hawaiian Telcom has invested more than a billion dollars, half of which of was invested within the past five years, to expand its statewide fiber network and support broadband access for Hawaiʻi residents.