Līhu'e, Hawai'i -Hale Līhu'e, which has served Kaua'i residents as a centralized, accessible community gathering place informally for the past seven years, is celebrating a new milestone today, thanks to Hawaiian Telcom, one the community center's long-time sponsors. Kaua'i residents who meet at the community center in downtown Līhu'e now have another amenity: access to reliable, high-speed internet service.
Hawaiian Telcom and Hale Līhu'e announced today that Hawaiian Telcom will be the exclusive technology partner for the new community center, which celebrates its grand opening on Wednesday, February 12, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The public is invited to this free public event.
Hale Līhu'e, a 3,000-square-foot space dedicated to the community, features a co working space, community space, and a coffee shop with indoor and outdoor seating. Under the terms of the agreement, Hawaiian Telcom will enhance the experience for the community with a state-of-the-art, fiber-enabled Wi-Fi network throughout Hale Līhu'e. In addition, Hawaiian Telcom is making a financial donation to support additional projects to meet the needs of the community.
"Itʻs exciting to see our vision for Hale Līhu'e unfold and truly become a community center that connects small businesses, artists, and creators, and that provides daily workshops, classes, and experiences that will bring the community together and improve wellbeing," said Addison Bulosan, community organizer.
"Hawaiian Telcom appreciates our partnership with Hale Līhu'e, and we are proud to support this effort to build stronger connections with this community hub where residents can take advantage of so many incredible resources," said Su Shin, President of Hawaiian Telcom. "We are also incredibly excited to deepen our support for Kauaʻi families and entrepreneurs through these kinds of partnerships to increase access to our cutting-edge technology across the island."
Hawaiian Telcom currently operates a market-leading fiber-to-the-premise (FTTP) network, offering the state's fastest internet speeds of up to 3 Gigabits per second (Gbps) symmetrical (both upload and download). The company recently announced plans that will position Hawai'i as the first fully-fiber enabled state in the nation by 2026. The company anticipates the fiber build in Kauaʻi will be completed later this year, the third island to be fully-fiber enabled.
In addition to Hawaiian Telcom, key sponsors include the Small Business Administration, Hawaii Tourism Authority, Alaska Air, Turo, Kauai Island Brewing Co., Hoike Community Media, Salty Wahine, Kauai Shores Hotel, Blue Dolphin Charters, Pacific Media Group, and Blaze Entertainment.
To learn more about Hale Līhu'e and its programs and amenities, please click this link.
For more details regarding the February 12 grand opening, please see below.
What: Hale Līhu'e Grand Opening
- When: February 12, 5-7 p.m.
- Where: 4286 Rice Street
- Web site: https://www.downtownlihue.com/communitycenter
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About Hawaiian Telcom
Established by King David Kalakaua in 1883, Hawaiian Telcom, a locally managed legacy company, has served Hawaiʻi's telecommunications needs for over 140 years. Headquartered in Honolulu, Hawaiian Telcom delivers communications solutions, including high-speed internet, video, voice, data network solutions and security, managed and cloud services to residential, business and wholesale customers over its statewide future-proof fiber network. Hawaiian Telcom has expanded the possibilities of community connectivity, offering the fastest, most reliable connection available through its resilient, weather-proof fiber network.
Hawaiian Telcom has made a significant investment in the state, from building local infrastructure, including laying new undersea cables across the Pacific to Asia, to making strides in closing the digital divide by expanding its services statewide and supporting local organizations with programs focused on digital equity. Since 2017, between grants and sponsorships, Hawaiian Telcom has given more than $5.5 million to support nonprofits and charitable initiatives across Hawaiʻi. For more information, visit Hawaiiantel.com.
Contact:
Nathan Hokama
Corporate Communications
Hawaiian Telcom
(808) 226-7470
nathan.hokama@hawaiiantel.com