Honolulu, Hawai‘i (August 15, 2023) – Hawaiian Telcom is providing free community WiFi and phone service at three Maui shelters: War Memorial Gym in Wailuku, Kīhei Gym and Hannibal Tavares Community Center in Pukalani.
“We understand connectivity is essential and our teams worked quickly and safely to provide needed phone and WiFi service in the community shelters,” said Su Shin, president and general manager at Hawaiian Telcom. “Other teams are working in parallel, placing poles and new fiber in Lāhainā to bring connectivity back to our central office, which will help to enable more cell phone service that people in this area so desperately need.”
Hawaiian Telcom is working with various wireless carriers to allow set up of their equipment on Hawaiian Telcom’s property in Lāhainā to support restoration of cell service to the area.
Crews continue to work in Kula, removing fallen trees and placing new poles and fiber.
The company is also waiving equipment charges and pausing billing charges for customers affected by the wildfires.
Previously, Hawaiian Telcom announced:
- Customers in areas such as Lāhainā, Nāpili, and Kā‘anapali can request to have calls to their Hawaiian Telcom landline numbers forwarded free of charge to another phone number. Customers can call (808) 643-MAUI (6284) to submit an online request.
- Maui customers are encouraged to continue to keep non-essential calls to a minimum to ensure that lines can remain open for emergency purposes. Cell phone users are encouraged to text instead of call when possible.
- For safety, please avoid downed lines as they could be active electric lines that are dangerous to touch. Moving them could also hamper restoration efforts. To report fallen utility poles or cables or contact the customer support team, please call (808) 643-6111 or visit hawaiiantel.com/supportform.
For the latest information and updates, please visit hawaiiantel.com/maui. This site includes information on Maui service disruptions, restoration updates and support as well as information about an employee-spearheaded collection of needed items and a link to donate funds to support Maui.
About Hawaiian Telcom
This year, Hawaiian Telcom celebrates its 140th anniversary. Established by King David Kalākaua in 1883, Hawaiian Telcom carries on its commitment to innovation and digital equity for Hawai‘i residents and businesses. The company’s expanding future-proof, energy-efficient fiber network across the Hawaiian Islands, including rural neighbor island communities, supports access to an array of communication services and business solutions. For more information, visit hawaiiantel.com.
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Contact
Ann Nishida Fry
(808) 285-9289
Ann.nishida@hawaiiantel.com