Hawaii Receives Grant for Broadband Technology Development


October 8, 2010

The latest news is that Hawaii will be receiving $2.4 million in federal stimulus funds from the U.S. Department of Commerce for the development of broadband technology.

The Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs will be awarded the money, which was part of a final round of grants under the State Broadband Data and Development grant program. The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration is working to implement broadband technology for economic purposes.

The funding will go towards efforts to help community institutions and small businesses use the technology more effectively. The program includes plans to expand broadband access and use.

Looking at the big picture, including Maui’s touchy economy, a lot of residents have had to be creative to earn a living here, and that creativity could be lucrative in online ventures. Nowadays, if you don’t have a website, it’s hard to get your business on the radar.

Make jewelry? Sell it online. Make sculptures? Sell them online. Heck, you could make good money selling lauhala creations, like baskets and mats. People place a great deal of value on authentic Hawaiian craftsmanship using traditional materials. Many will pay a great deal more than you could get from buyers here. Just make sure you really market the “Made on Maui” angle, and prepare them for increased shipping costs. On that note, goods that are lighter in weight are better.

So developing broadband technology is definitely a step in the right direction for the economy’s infrastructure. Apparently the recession is over too. Our high (and climbing) hotel occupancy supports that assertion as well. Things are definitely looking up.


To find the perfect Maui property for your specific needs, feel free to use our online real estate search tool. Also, we recommend you take a look at our featured Maui properties and check out Wailea Ekahi condos. If you need any help with our website or your pursuit of great Maui real estate, contact us at the information at the bottom of the page. Thanks for reading and have a wonderful weekend!



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