Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke, who is acting as governor while Gov. Josh Green is traveling out of state, took a significant step toward addressing Hawaii’s digital divide on Monday by signing two important pieces of legislation into law.
The first, House Bill 934, now known as Act 20, officially establishes the Hawaii Broadband Office within the state Department of Accounting and General Services.
This new office is tasked with leading broadband infrastructure development across the state. It will coordinate funding initiatives and work to ensure that high-speed Internet access reaches underserved communities, including both urban public housing and remote rural locations.
During the bill-signing ceremony, Luke emphasized the importance of this legislation: “With the signing of House Bill 934, Hawaii is taking a necessary step toward a future where every resident, regardless of geography, regardless of age or income, can connect to and use affordable, reliable broadband Internet to access education, health care and economic opportunity.”
The newly established Broadband Office will administer both federal and state broadband grants and oversee Internet infrastructure deployment. It is also expected to collaborate with both public and private sectors to achieve Hawaii’s connectivity goals.
In tandem with this initiative, the legislation allocates funds for six new “digital navigator” positions stationed at public libraries across the islands.
These navigators will assist residents in learning to use devices, connecting to the Internet, and utilizing vital online services such as telehealth appointments, job applications, and government programs.
Luke shared anecdotes illustrating the need for such services, stating, “It’s about giving more Internet options to that tutu in Pa ‘uilo who cannot rely on her spotty Internet connection for her health care. It’s about a job seeker in Hanapepe trying to fill out an online application but gets stuck because the website only accepts a specific file format. And it’s about an uncle in Waimanalo who just got a brand new tablet and wants to go online to do online banking, but doesn’t know where to start.”
The 2023 pilot program for digital navigators, which served residents at seven libraries, has proven successful, prompting state officials to pursue a wider rollout.
The Hawaii Community Digital Navigators Project is now open for proposals, inviting applications to place trained navigators in all 51 public library branches.
Proposals are due by June 30 at 2 p.m. and are available for submission on the website connectkakou.org.
State Librarian Stacey Aldrich discussed the effectiveness of the pilot program, noting that residents could book one-on-one sessions with staff to gain or update essential digital skills.
She expressed the state’s commitment to broadening access, saying, “We know that in this digital age, we have to be invested in making sure everybody has connectivity—but also that they have the skills that they need to connect to the world around them. And so for public libraries across the state, we’re dedicated to helping our communities.”
During the ceremony, state House Speaker Nadine Nakamura highlighted how the COVID-19 pandemic exposed critical connectivity gaps within her community on Kauai.
Nakamura pointed out that residents facing job loss struggled to access unemployment benefits due to a lack of Internet access.
She noted, “This bill is so important, because it helps to level the playing field. It helps to lift families up and have access to resources over the Internet that we, many of us, take for granted.”
In addition to the broadband initiatives, Luke also signed House Bill 1052 into Act 202.
This legislation aims to make critical public alerts—including weather warnings, health advisories, and emergency notifications—more accessible for all residents, particularly those with disabilities or low print literacy.
The new law mandates that state communications must reach a wider audience, ensuring that people can access essential information, irrespective of their ability to read or understand traditional formats.
This comprehensive approach signifies a robust commitment to enhancing equity in digital access and serves as a vital step toward improving overall connectivity for Hawaii’s residents.
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