11 p.m. Update from Hawaiian Telcom

As of 11 p.m. Saturday (Feb 14) services have been restored to all impacted customers.

10:30 p.m. Update from Hawaiian Telcom

Hawaiian Telcom technicians have placed the new cable and begun splicing, some customers will begin to see service restored shortly. All customers are estimated to have services restored by about 2 a.m. Hawaiian Telcom thanks its customers for their patience and understanding.

MEDIA RELEASE

At about 3:30 p.m. today, a break was discovered on Hawaiian Telcom’s fiber cable on Mamalahoa Highway near Hualalai Ranch. Technicians located the damaged cable in a remote wooded area that is full of trees. High winds are believed to have snapped the 36-pair fiber cable.

Hawaiian Telcom technicians must first clear the trees before pulling in about 350 feet of cable. Once the cable is placed, each end must be painstakingly spliced. Technicians will work through the night to ensure service is restored by tomorrow.

Hawaiian Telcom landline telephone and Internet are out of service in the Kona area extending from Waikoloa to Pahala, affecting approximately 20,000 phone and 5,500 Internet customers. Wireless carriers may also be impacted.