With over 130 islands spread across the Pacific Ocean, providing reliable and affordable internet access has been an ongoing challenge in Hawaii. Despite the geographic obstacles, great progress has been made, with 98% of Hawaiians now able to get high-speed broadband internet from a choice of providers. For a tech-savvy island resident looking to get connected or upgrade their service, numerous options exist. Let‘s take a look at 10 of the top internet service providers meeting Hawaii‘s connectivity needs today.
A Brief History of the Internet in Hawaii
Hawaii‘s internet journey began in the 1960s when the first satellite ground station was installed on Oahu, connecting the islands to the mainland. By the 1990s, companies like GTE Hawaiian Tel were offering dial-up internet over phone lines. In the 2000s, cable and DSL broadband became widely available from providers like Oceanic Time Warner (now Spectrum), Hawaiian Telcom and Sandwich Isles.
Major infrastructure investments brought faster fiber optic connections to more Hawaii residents in recent years. Federal programs like the Connect America Fund have subsidized network expansions to remote and rural areas by providers such as Sandwich Isles. Average internet speeds in Hawaii have leapt from 10 Mbps in 2014 to nearly 200 Mbps today.
While still lagging the continental U.S. slightly, Hawaii has caught up impressively when it comes to internet access and choice. Next let‘s dive into detail on 10 leading providers delivering service across the islands.
1. Spectrum
- Technology: Cable, Fiber
- Availability: 85.5% coverage
- Speeds: 200Mbps-1000Mbps download, 10-35Mbps upload
- Price Range: $50-$200 per month
Spectrum is the largest cable broadband provider in Hawaii with its network spanning the most populous islands. It offers speeds up to 1 Gbps through fiber and cable plans, along with discounted bundles adding TV and phone service. Spectrum receives over $8 million annually from federal subsidies to maintain and upgrade infrastructure in rural Hawaii communities.
2. Hawaiian Telcom
- Technology: DSL, Fiber
- Availability: 98% coverage
- Speeds: 7-1000Mbps download, 1-20Mbps upload
- Price Range: $15-$150 per month
Hawaiian Telcom provides both DSL and high-speed fiber optic internet powered by an underwater cable system circling the islands. With nearly complete statewide availability and discounted low-income plans, Hawaiian Telcom has received over $200 million in federal rural expansion grants.
3. T-Mobile
- Technology: 4G LTE, 5G
- Availability: 70% coverage
- Speeds: 33-182Mbps download, 3-25Mbps upload
- Price Range: $50-$90 per month
For wireless home internet, T-Mobile leverages its extensive mobile network with over 300 cell sites in Hawaii. Its 5G and LTE service now covers the majority of households across the major islands. T-Mobile home internet plans come with guaranteed prices and no data caps.
4. Verizon
- Technology: 4G LTE, 5G
- Availability: 83% coverage
- Speeds: 50-940Mbps download, 3-880Mbps upload
- Price Range: $25-$50 per month
Verizon recently activated its high-performance 5G Ultra Wideband network on Oahu, Maui and Hawaii Island. Combined with its 4G LTE, Verizon‘s wireless home internet reaches over 80% of the state with typical download speeds over 300 Mbps.
5. Viasat/Exede
- Technology: Satellite
- Availability: 100% coverage
- Speeds: 12-100Mbps download, 3Mbps upload
- Price Range: $50-$150 per month
Viasat offers satellite broadband service to all of Hawaii‘s islands through its high-capacity system in orbit. With complete coverage, Viasat is a reliable option for households in remote areas unreached by other providers. Monthly data allowances range from 40GB to unlimited.
6. HughesNet
- Technology: Satellite
- Availability: 100% coverage
- Speeds: 25Mbps download, 3Mbps upload
- Price Range: $60-$150 per month
HughesNet Gen5 satellite service delivers internet statewide starting at 25Mbps speeds. While data is unlimited during overnight hours, daytime data allowances range from 10GB for basic plans up to 50GB for premium plans.
7. Sandwich Isles Communications
- Technology: Fiber, Fixed Wireless
- Availability: 20% coverage
- Speeds: 10-100Mbps download, 10Mbps upload
- Price Range: Undisclosed
Specializing in bringing connectivity to remote areas, this Hawaii-based provider has received over $250 million in federal subsidies to construct thousands of miles of fiber and wireless networks. Though its availability is limited, Sandwich Isles fills essential gaps particularly on Hawaii Island.
8. Rocket Start/Paniolo Cable
- Technology: Cable, Fiber
- Availability: 2% coverage
- Speeds: 50-940Mbps download, 3-35Mbps upload
- Price Range: $40-$180 per month
Serving rural communities on Hawaii Island, Paniolo Cable offers fiber speeds up to 940 Mbps in some areas. Combined with its sister company Rocket Start, its hybrid fiber coaxial network reaches underserved areas like Waimea and Honoka‘a.
9. Hawaiian Cablevision/Lahaina Networks
- Technology: Cable
- Availability: 1% coverage
- Speeds: 100-300Mbps download, 10Mbps upload
- Price Range: $80-$125 per month
This local provider powers the cable and broadband networks for a few communities in west Maui. While its availability is extremely limited, Hawaiian Cablevision offers an alternative to satellite internet for these neighborhoods.
10. Broadband VI
- Technology: Fixed Wireless
- Availability: 13% coverage
- Speeds: 25-50Mbps download, 3-10Mbps upload
- Price Range: $60-$100 per month
Headquartered on Molokai, this wireless ISP utilizes a network of transmission towers to serve rural customers on islands like Lanai and Molokai underserved by major broadband providers.
Choosing the Right Hawaii Internet Provider
With a diverse range of wired and wireless internet providers now established throughout the islands, Hawaii residents have more choice than ever. Speeds, monthly data allowances, price and service reliability should be key considerations as you evaluate options for your neighborhood.
Those relying exclusively on mobile devices may get by with wireless hotspot plans from T-Mobile or Verizon. Cord cutters who stream a lot of video would benefit from the fastest cable or fiber optic plans. And for those in remote areas beyond the reach of traditional networks, satellite internet from Viasat or HughesNet could be the only viable provider.
No matter your location in Hawaii, be sure to check all available providers as coverage across the islands continues expanding. While no longer at the mercy of a single ISP monopoly, selecting the best service meeting both performance and budget needs does require some homework. But the payoff is finally having reliable, high-speed internet enabling residents statewide to access critical services, education and job opportunities.
