Hawaii

Hawaii ISP Sandwich Isles to Shut Down Voice, Internet Service on Saturday

Published

2 years ago

June 1, 2024

Hawaii ISP Sandwich Isles to Shut Down Voice, Internet Service on Saturday

Hawaii Broadband

Sandwich Isles Communications sent an email to Native Hawaiian customers on Thursday saying it was shutting down service on Saturday.

WASHINGTON, June 1, 2024 – A provider of Internet access and other communications services to Native Hawaiians is closing its doors on Saturday, with the company’s founder saying the money-losing operator had no other choice.

The state of Hawaii announced on Friday that Sandwich Isles Communications sent an email yesterday to its 1,500 customers that service would end on June 1, raising public safety concerns with top state officials.

“Reliable phone and Internet service is a lifeline for our communities. 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 in a statement Friday. “We strongly urge Sandwich Isles Communications to transition Hawaiian Home Lands lessees to alternate service providers in an orderly and responsible process.”

SIC founder Al Hee told Broadband Breakfast on Friday night that customers would lose access to Internet and landline phone service but not mobile phone service. He said SIC’s customer count was well above 1,500.

SIC has had a contract with the state’s Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to provide communications services to Hawaiian homelands, areas held in trust for Native Hawaiians by the state of Hawaii.

Hee said SIC was closing “because we are losing money and we have been for the last five-plus years. I am not going to lose any more money.”

SIC has also been engaged in a long-running dispute with the U.S. Department of Agriculture about the $150 million balance on an infrastructure loan that Hee said SIC was expecting to pay down with financial support from the Federal Communications Commission’s Universal Service Fund but was cut off.

He said losing access to USF funding in 2015 was “tied into” an FCC investigation that resulted in a $49.6 million fine against SIC and Hee over improper use of USF financial support.

Diamond Badajos, Information and Community Relations Officer for the DHHL, told Broadband Breakfast on Friday night that the state found troubling that the SIC situation could create a public safety risk if hundreds can’t call 911.

“That’s certainly a concern,” Badajos said.

DHHL has been advising SIC customers for a while to find Internet service with Hawaiian Telcom or Charter Communications. Badajos did not know how many SIC customers had already found a new provider. Hee said only 50 percent of SIC customers today had access to Hawaiian Telcom or Spectrum.

On Friday night, Charter sent out a press release announcing the launch of Spectrum voice services in Hawaiian Home Lands, saying current residential Spectrum Internet customers could receive Spectrum Voice for $14.99 for 12 months.

“Spectrum currently offers Spectrum Internet with speeds up to 1 Gig, Spectrum Mobile, and Spectrum TV to thousands on the Hawaiian Home Lands,” the company said.

DHHL is also making SIC customers aware of satellite Internet service provided by Starlink. The Hawaii government, she said, has no plans to rush Starlink terminals to SIC customers. DHHL is also promoting Dish’s satellite Internet service as an option.

In a May 30 email to customers, SIC said it needed help from DHHL to continue to offer service but was not getting it.

“Although we are still in communication with the federal government about this problem, DHHL has refused to participate in a global solution. It appears they would rather see SIC close shop than ensure your continued service,” the email said.

Badajos said, “We really don’t want to get into any slinging match with Al [Hee].

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Hawaii

Meet Miss Aloha Hula 2026: Faith Kealohapauole Paredes

Published

8 hours ago

April 10, 2026

Press Room

Meet Miss Aloha Hula 2026: Faith Kealohapauole Paredes

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Faith Kealohapau‘ole Paredes of Hālau Kekuaokalāʻauʻalaʻiliahi (Nā Kumu Haunani & ‘Iliahi Paredes) was crowned Miss Aloha Hula Thursday night at the Merrie Monarch Festival, topping a field of 13 competitors in the festival’s first night of competition.

The contest features performances in hula kahiko, hula ʻauana and oli, showcasing both technical precision and artistic interpretation.

Judges scored competitors on a range of elements, including kaʻi; interpretation and expression; posture and precision; hand gestures; foot and body movement; hoʻi; authenticity of costume and adornments; grooming; and overall performance.

The 21-year-old from Maui received 1,161 points.

“It’s surreal,” she said. “I’m just so honored and blessed to be able to show and share my lineage and share the hula from my hello with all of Hawaii and all of the world.”

Paredes also won the Hawaiian Language Award.

“Hula will forever live,” she said. “It is through us speaking out in ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi. It is through us (to) not be ashamed of who we are and to hula on. Dance with your heart out.”

Paredes is a Kamehameha Schools graduate and attends Dartmouth College. She won the title of Miss Keiki Hula in 2015.

The rest of the finalists were as follows:

1st runner up: Keoe Momilani Michiko Hoe (1,156)

2nd runner up: Lahela Hoʻokela Medina Maio (1,134 points)

3rd runner up: Leimana Kaleinamanu Purdy (1,115 points)

4th runner up: Jelacia Naomi Waiauokalaniākea Peralta (1,098 points)

The festival continues Friday night with group hula kahiko.

View our Merrie Monarch Festival online hub here.

Samantha Makanani Aguon Newman

Nā Kumu Hula Karl Veto Baker & Michael Lanakila Casupang

Haily Kamakahukilani Nawahine Nascimento

Nā Kumu Hula William Kahakuleilehua Haunu‘u “Sonny” Ching & Lōpaka Igarta-De Vera

Kēhaulani Kaleikaumakamaeʻiʻomakamae Rubonal

Kumu Hula Keolalaulani Dalire

Mālie Kapuaonaonaikamauʻuuaolalokoikealohaokalaniākea Moe

Kumu Hula Kapua Dalire-Moe

Lilia Kaleialohaokealohalani Ka’ōnohi’ula Keohokapuakeakua Iokepa-Guerrero

Kumu Hula Niuliʻi Heine

Jovian Kauanoeokalaulani Range-Semisi

Nā Kumu Hula Kunewa Mook & Kau‘ionālani Kamana‘o

Keoe Momilani Michiko Hoe

Kumu Hula Robert Ke‘ano Ka‘upu IV

Lahela Hoʻokela Medina Maio

Nā Kumu Hula Tracie & Keawe Lopes

Faith Lynn Kealohapauʻole Paredes

Nā Kumu Hula Haunani & ‘Iliahi Paredes

Jelacia Naomi Waiauokalaniākea Peralta

Kumu Breeze Ann Kalehuaonālani Vidinha Pavao

Hiʻileilanikauakapukapuokeānuenue Puchalski

Kumu Hula Keli‘iho‘omalu Puchalski

Leimana Kaleinamanu Purdy

Kumu Hula Nāpua Silva

Līlianani Maya Rae Pi

Kumu Hula Kenneth Dean Alohapumehanaokalā Victor

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Hawaii

Hawaii lawmakers push for continued tax relief for most families

Published

20 hours ago

April 10, 2026

Press Room

Hawaii lawmakers push for continued tax relief for most families

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The Hawaii State Legislature is entering the final weeks of the 2025 session with at least one point of agreement: income taxes will continue to decline for most families.

Both the House and Senate rejected the governor’s plan to cancel some tax relief, despite earlier uncertainty about the state’s financial situation.

“So what the Senate’s position is, is we want to make sure that the promises that were made are kept, especially with those families that make $350,000 a year or less,” said Senate Ways and Means chair Donovan Dela Cruz.

House Finance chair Rep. Chris Todd agreed the priority is ensuring ongoing tax relief.

Energy tax credits targeted to offset revenue loss

Continuing to reduce taxes means nearly $2 billion has to come from somewhere else. The Senate Ways and Means Committee voted to eliminate state energy tax credits for things like solar power and electric cars in 2029.

The credits could be saved if the economy improves.

“So this becomes a shared approach. Government cuts, business tax credits, get sunset, and then we’re still charging some of the higher end income brackets,” Dela Cruz said. “Their tax breaks are going to get repealed.”

House proposes tax increase on high earners

The House moved along a redesigned tax package that makes tax credits for spending on child care and food more generous and raises income taxes on families with incomes over $350,000.

“It would provide some ongoing tax relief to low to middle income families, but in return, we would request a 1% tax increase on very high income families,” Todd said.

The financial picture is clearer now, even with flood disaster costs, because of the federal disaster declaration.

“Now the state’s eligible to get reimbursed for a lot of these funds. We’re not sure what it’s going to look like, but that’s going to be positive for us,” Dela Cruz said.

Todd said the state is sitting on a solid reserve, a luxury not many states have right now.

All the proposals from the House and the Senate are now going into conference committee, where the final details will be worked out over the next month.

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