State briefs for October 14

Slow internet causes problems for education, work

HONOLULU — Slow internet service has become an increasing problem for Molokai residents on Hawaiian Home Lands properties.

Service provided by a single telecom provider has caused difficulties for residents working at home or families engaged in distance learning.

Sandwich Isles Communication secured an exclusive license with the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands in 1995 to bring telecom services to rural homestead communities. In return, other companies must use and pay for the Sandwich Isles infrastructure to reach customers.

Democratic state Rep. Lynn DeCoite, who represents Molokai, said she has received numerous complaints from homesteaders.

“Anger, frustration. You can’t even get through to a live body to talk about what the situation is, or negotiations of how they can have their bills paid, or you can transfer over to another carrier,” DeCoite said.

Hawaiian homesteader Kui Adolpho said her only option for service in Hoolehua is Sandwich Isles, but frozen screens and constant buffering are a daily ordeal for her three children taking elementary school classes at home.

Adolpho also works from home, adding to the strain on limited bandwidth.

She began an online petition to raise awareness about the problems, noting that some homesteaders have to pay for internet hot spots to obtain adequate service.

Sandwich Isles said it is aware of the problems with internet speed and plans to upgrade its infrastructure. The company also said it is in negotiations to provide internet service in Hoolehua through Spectrum, which is owned by Charter Communications Inc.

Bankruptcy filings decrease despite virus pandemic

HONOLULU — The number of Hawaii bankruptcy filings fell in September despite the state’s ongoing economic struggle because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Data from the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Hawaii, indicates filings declined 10.7% in September to 125 from 140 the previous year.

The number of cases in the bankruptcy court fell in seven of nine months this year. Filings were down 8.1% to 1,149 from 1,250 during the same period in 2019.

Bankruptcies fell in three of the four major counties. City and County of Honolulu filings decreased to 91 from 101, Hawaii County filings dropped to seven from 11 and filings in Kauai County fell to four from five. Maui County filings remained the same at 23.
Source: Hawaii Tribune Herald