Hawaii Broadband
SIC did not go forward with plans to shut off wireline phone and Internet service at 12:01 a.m. on June 1.
WASHINGTON, June 1, 2024 – Hawaii’s governor and the state Public Utilities Commission intervened at the last minute Friday to stop a local communications company from cutting off phone and Internet service to about 1,500 Native Hawaiians
Gov. Josh Green (D) issued an Emergency Proclamation and the PUC released a notice of violation that ordered Sandwich Isles Communications to continue providing service to customers without disruption or reduction in quality.
“In line with the Emergency Proclamation issued by Gov. Green, the commission is concerned that [sic] may be engaging in conduct that is detrimental to the public interest,” said Public Utilities Commission Chair Leo Asuncion in a May 31 press release
Asuncion said the PUC stepped in because “Sandwich Isles Communications failed to provide timely notice to the PUC of its intent to abandon or discontinue service, as required by commission rules and regulations.”
SIC founder Al Hee, who is currently an advisor to the company, said the broadband ISP did not go forward with plans to shut off wireline phone and Internet service at 12:01 a.m. on June 1, as the company indicated it would in a May 30 email to customers with the subject line: “Sandwich Isles services to end June 1, 2024.”
“Friday evening … the Hawaii PUC ordered Sandwich Isles not to terminate service today. We have complied,” Hee said in an email to Broadband Breakfast on Saturday.
Hee urged the Federal Communications Commission and Hawaii regulators to help SIC regain financial strength. In 2020, the FCC fined SIC and Hee $49.6 million for misusing federal Universal Service Fund financial support.
In prior comments, Hee said SIC needed to close because it had been losing money for several years and saw no way of paying back the $150 million balance on a U.S. Department of Agriculture loan.
“Hawaii does not have a state universal service fund. Nor does the PUC have the ability to raise customer rates to stop Sandwich Isles from losing money. The solution lies with [Hawaii’s Department of Hawaiian Home Lands] and the FCC, both of which have been notified well in advance about this situation and both of which have remained silent,” Hee said.
DHHL has a contract with SIC requiring the company to provide communications services to Hawaiian homelands. These are areas located throughout the islands that are held in trust for Native Hawaiians by the state of Hawaii.
Since May 24, the DHHL has been issuing advisories encouraging SIC customers about to lose service from SIC to consider signing up for service with Hawaiian Telcom or Charter Communications for a landline Internet connection. For satellite Internet service options, DHHL has been recommending Starlink or Dish.
Diamond Badajos, DHHL’s Information and Community Relations Officer, sent an email to Broadband Breakfast on Saturday saying the situation with SIC is “fluid and evolving,” but “we are not aware of any new outages since SIC issued its threat to disconnect customers.”
A 35-year-old man was taken to a hospital in serious condition early this morning after an apparent stabbing on Waterhouse Street in Kalihi, according to Honolulu Emergency Medical Services.
At about 2 a.m. today, EMS crews co-responded to the incident and treated the man for multiple injuries, including at least one to his upper body. He was transported to an emergency room for further care.
No other details were immediately available.
Hawaii’s most active and popular volcano, Kilauea, is preparing to put on a show as geologists forecast the volcano’s 44th eruption in the coming days.
The United States Geological Survey said that precursory eruption activity is occurring as the active volcano prepares to erupt – one of Earth’s most captivating natural spectacles.
According to the USGS, the forecast for the start of episode 44 is between April 6 to April 14.
On Saturday morning, the south vent overflowed at 6:11 a.m. HST, with lava flowing from the south vent at least 10 times through small dome fountains.
One of the most active volcanoes in the world, Kilauea has been erupting episodically within its summit caldera since December 23, 2024 – and is preparing to do so for the 44th time in the coming days.
Eruption episodes at Kilauea typically last from a few hours to one day, with some lasting up to 8 ½ days of lava flow.
When the volcano comes alive, it is a sight to behold.
Fountains of red to yellow lava shoot more than 1,000 feet in the air out of boiling lakes of lava – a scene that annually attracts crowds of tourists to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park to witness the phenomenon.
For those fortunate enough to witness a Kilauea eruption, the natural spectacle is as dangerous as it is mesmerizing.
According to the USGS, the volcano lets off threatening hazardous gases, especially to those with heart or respiratory issues, infants, children and pregnant women.
When the volcano is erupting, unsafe ash is abrasive and can irritate eyes, skin and the respiratory system.
Can’t make the trip to Hawaii to witness the 44th episode? Don’t worry.
The USGS operates several live webcams at Kilauea, streaming continuously on their website—stay tuned for any signs of eruption. You won’t want to miss it.
VOLCANO, Hawaii – Hawaii’s most active and popular volcano, Kilauea, is preparing to put on a show as geologists forecast the volcano’s 44th eruption in the coming days.
The United States Geological Survey said that precursory eruption activity is occurring as the active volcano prepares to erupt – one of Earth’s most captivating natural spectacles.
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According to the USGS, the forecast for the start of episode 44 is between April 6 to April 14.
On Saturday morning, the south vent overflowed at 6:11 a.m. HST, with lava flowing from the south vent at least 10 times through small dome fountains.
One of the most active volcanoes in the world, Kilauea has been erupting episodically within its summit caldera since December 23, 2024 – and is preparing to do so for the 44th time in the coming days.
Eruption episodes at Kilauea typically last from a few hours to one day, with some lasting up to 8 ½ days of lava flow.
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When the volcano comes alive, it is a sight to behold. Fountains of red to yellow lava shoot more than 1,000 feet in the air out of boiling lakes of lava – a scene that annually attracts crowds of tourists to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park to witness the phenomenon.
For those fortunate enough to witness a Kilauea eruption, the natural spectacle is as dangerous as it is mesmerizing. According to the USGS, the volcano lets off threatening hazardous gases, especially to those with heart or respiratory issues, infants, children and pregnant women. When the volcano is erupting, unsafe ash is abrasive and can irritate eyes, skin and the respiratory system.
Can’t make the trip to Hawaii to witness the 44th episode? Don’t worry. The USGS operates several live webcams at Kilauea, streaming continuously on their website—stay tuned for any signs of eruption. You won’t want to miss it.
Original article source: Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano is brewing yet again, preparing to put on a show for it’s 44th episode
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