Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke

HONOLULU — Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke expresses strong support of a federal broadband grant awarded to the Department of Hawaiian Homelands (DHHL) by the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program, a part of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. The release of the initial funding was announced Monday at a Hawaiian Homes Commission meeting and will be used for the adoption of broadband internet services for Native Hawaiian communities across the state. 

This initial $17 million award of the total $90 million allocated to DHHL will support telehealth, digital literacy education and community services for Native Hawaiians.  

“Our Native Hawaiian community continues to be impacted by gaps in meaningful access to the internet, as highlighted in many areas of our state during the pandemic. This grant will go a long way in helping to provide and improve broadband accessibility throughout our communities,” said Lt. Gov. Luke, who has made statewide broadband expansion a priority for her office. 

The remaining funding from the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program will be released through a proposal submission process early next year and will support the planning and deployment of high-speed internet access across the statewide DHHL lands.  

Lt. Gov. Luke plans to oversee future initiatives that will modernize Hawaiʻi’s broadband infrastructure. “Governor Green has entrusted me to be the lead executive facilitating statewide broadband initiatives. I am committed to working with the community, private industry and partners from all levels of government in ensuring access to high quality connectivity throughout Hawaiʻi,” said Luke. 

 

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Shari Nishijima
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