Honolulu, HI — In a significant boost to connectivity for Native Hawaiian communities, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) has been awarded a $72 million grant from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s (NTIA) Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program. This latest grant builds on a $17 million award received earlier this year, bringing the total funding to $89 million to improve broadband access for thousands of underserved households in Hawaiian homelands.
The funds will be directed toward building telecommunications infrastructure in areas with limited or non-existent high-speed internet service. The initiative also aims to establish broadband connections in planned housing developments, ensuring future residents have reliable access to digital resources.
Closing the Digital Divide for Native Hawaiians
“This new federal funding will mean communities on Hawaiian homelands will have better, more reliable high-speed internet at home, helping more people access education, healthcare, and employment resources online,” said U.S. Senator Brian Schatz, chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, who played a pivotal role in securing the funding. The grant underscores the federal government’s commitment to closing the digital divide in tribal and Native Hawaiian communities. The Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program, part of the Biden administration’s broader infrastructure initiatives, aims to deliver high-speed internet to underserved areas, recognizing broadband as a vital utility in today’s digital age.
Infrastructure and Economic Development
The DHHL highlighted the funding’s transformative potential. It will be used to construct fiber-optic networks and other advanced telecommunications infrastructure. These upgrades will provide thousands of families with internet speeds comparable to urban areas, enabling seamless access to online education, telehealth services, and digital job opportunities.
“This new federal funding will mean communities on Hawaiian home lands will have better, more reliable high-speed internet at home, helping more people access education, health care, and employment resources online,” said US Sen. Brian Schatz, who serves as chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs and helped secure funding for the grant.
Bridging the Connectivity Gap
The lack of broadband infrastructure in rural and remote areas of Hawaii has long been a barrier to digital inclusion. Many Native Hawaiian households have faced significant challenges accessing essential services, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the shift to remote work and online learning underscored the importance of reliable internet.
Alan Davidson, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information, praised the program’s efforts: “These grants are about equity and opportunity. By providing high-speed internet access, we’re leveling the playing field for communities that have been historically underserved.”
Looking Ahead
The DHHL is set to begin work on the infrastructure projects in early 2025, with a phased rollout planned to prioritize the most underserved areas. Once completed, these improvements are expected to benefit thousands of families, bridging the connectivity gap and fostering greater digital inclusion.
The grant was announced Tuesday at a media event in Honolulu in the offices of Hawaiʻi Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke, leader of Connect Kākou, Hawaiʻi’s high-speed internet initiative. “For too long, many communities on Hawaiian home lands have lacked equitable access to the digital tools citizens need to participate fully in our modern economy,” said Luke.
For more information on the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program and updates on the DHHL’s initiatives, visit the NTIA’s official website: NTIA Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program.
