After years of dropped calls, dead lines, and mounting frustration, the Hawaiian Homes Commission has finally pulled the plug on Waimana Enterprises. The commission voted Monday to revoke the beleaguered telecom’s operating license, shifting control of phone and internet infrastructure on Hawaiian homestead lands to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL).
DHHL is now responsible for inspecting equipment, planning repairs, and restoring service for communities affected by outages. Many homestead lessees have already switched to other carriers after last year’s disruptions.
Commission Cancels Waimana License
The commission’s vote to cancel Waimana’s exclusive license was unanimous, clearing the way for DHHL to take possession of the company’s telecommunications assets for inspection and potential upgrades, according to Civil Beat. DHHL officials told commissioners the company owes the department more than $900,000 in unpaid license fees and that much of its equipment has fallen into disrepair. They said bringing those systems under DHHL’s control is the first step toward restoring reliable service to homestead communities.
Federal Grants To Finance Fixes
According to DHHL’s own communications and news listings, the department has access to federal broadband grants totaling roughly $90 million, including a $72 million NTIA award announced last year. That money has been framed as the primary funding source for both middle-mile and last-mile upgrades on Hawaiian homelands. Agency leaders say those resources give them the ability to repair or replace rusting towers and aging conduit once they finish cataloging the equipment Waimana leaves behind.
Service Cuts Prompted Emergency Intervention
The crisis boiled over in 2024 when a Waimana affiliate, Sandwich Isles Communications, signaled it would cut phone and internet service to homestead customers. That threat prompted swift intervention from regulators and the governor. The state Public Utilities Commission ordered the company not to disconnect service and scheduled hearings, while Gov. Josh Green issued an emergency proclamation to keep lines active during the standoff, as reported by Hawaii News Now. Regulators warned that shutoffs could create serious public-safety risks in remote areas where residents have little or no cellular coverage.
Legal Baggage Stretches Back Years
Waimana and its affiliates have spent years entangled in litigation and federal enforcement actions, and the company’s legal fight with DHHL has continued into appellate filings this year, per public court records from Justia. The companies have also faced scrutiny and proposed penalties from the Federal Communications Commission, and founder Albert (Al) Hee was convicted on tax fraud charges in 2016, a history that has influenced how regulators and judges view the firms’ fitness to serve homestead communities, according to the Star-Advertiser. Those past enforcement actions and financial problems weighed heavily in recent department decisions.
What Homesteaders Can Expect
To keep essential communications available to beneficiaries, the commission approved an interim plan that allows DHHL to issue temporary licenses to other providers. Most former Waimana customers have already moved to companies such as Hawaiian Telcom and Spectrum, according to Civil Beat. In places without wireline alternatives, the department has been rolling out wireless hotspots and prioritizing repairs to key towers and conduit.
DHHL officials are urging beneficiaries to watch for official notices with details on enrollment and transitions as inspections move ahead. Trustees cast their vote as a long overdue reset, aimed at ending a cycle of unreliable service and clearing the way to spend federal grant dollars on overdue repairs and replacements. The department and state regulators say they will continue posting updates as the transfer and inspection process progresses.
