LIHU‘E — Free Wi-Fi may soon be available at several county parks on Kaua‘i.
The County Council unanimously approved a request to receive and expend $50,000 in state funds for a program providing 24/7 public internet access at seven parks throughout the island.
“Often we have people who don’t have access to internet, so they can go to the park and sign up for programs,” said Councilmember Felicia Cowden. “It really helps disadvantaged people.”
Kaua‘i IT Manager Del Sherman reported that seven locations are being eyed for Wi-Fi: Vidinha Stadium, Isenberg Park, Lydgate Beach, Kilauea Park, Waimea Athletic Field and parks in Hanapepe and Kekaha.
“The agreement was that we would try to outfit at least seven locations, so those were the primary ones we selected,” said Sherman. “We’ll expand from there if we can.”
The IT Department estimated that the project will be completed within a year. They are still waiting to receive state funds through the state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Hi-Wifi program, and will go through a procurement process to find a contractor afterwards.
The Hi-Wifi program was initially implemented as a pilot on Hawai‘i Island.
According to county documents on the project, the funding would be used to procure equipment, modems, routers and filtering software. The county would be responsible for operating the hotspots, collecting usage data and submitting reports to the DCCA.
Councilmembers called attention to potential federal funding that could be used for the expansion of this project.
“Right now there are a lot of federal infrastructure dollars out there. I know they are making a priority of connectivity, especially for rural areas,” said Councilmember KipuKai Kauli‘i. “I’m wondering if we have a plan to take advantage of that.”
Sherman stated that he had accessed all the funding that he was aware of, but that he remained interested in expanding the program through all available funding sources.
Councilmembers also discussed adding additional locations at the meeting, with a focus on more rural areas that often struggle with internet access.
“We cannot forget about Waimea Valley,” said Councilmember Billy Decosta. “It’s important because a lot of kids with the weather conditions cannot get out to school, and they need that Wi-Fi to do their curriculum.”
Council Vice-Chair Mason Chock voiced similar concerns about internet access in Wainiha.
“The issue is we don’t have fiber optic capability to some of these desired locations,” said Sherman. “That backhaul is needed to give us that kind of Wi-Fi broadband internet speeds that make these locations functional.”
He reported that they intend to expand their fiber optic capacity as well, and that as fiber optic coverage expands some of these locations may be made available for Wi-Fi access.
This is part of an ongoing county effort to establish Wi-Fi in public places, with the county establishing free internet access in neighborhood centers in May 2021.
“County WiFi” is accessible daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., and can be accessed from inside the neighborhood centers or from the public areas around the building.
•••
Guthrie Scrimgeour, reporter, can be reached at 647-0329 or gscrimgeour@thegardenisland.com.
