{"id":207924,"date":"2024-12-17T10:50:35","date_gmt":"2024-12-17T20:50:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=207924"},"modified":"2024-12-17T10:50:35","modified_gmt":"2024-12-17T20:50:35","slug":"internet-access-molokai-families","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2024\/12\/17\/internet-access-molokai-families\/","title":{"rendered":"Students provide internet access to underserved Moloka\u02bbi homestead families"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
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Andrew Alling and Kainalu Seales help to install Starlink on Molokaʻi<\/span>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Two students helped to bring internet connectivity to underserved homestead families on Molokaʻi<\/span>, addressing a critical gap in digital access that has long hindered residents.<\/p>\n

Andrew Alling, a junior electrical engineering<\/a> student in the University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> at M\u0101noa\u2019s College of Engineering<\/a>, and Kainalu Seales, a senior at Kamehameha Schools Kap\u0101lama, partnered on a project to install Starlink satellite internet systems for multiple families across some of the island\u2019s homestead lots. The initiative is part of a broader effort to provide basic infrastructure to residents who previously had no electricity or internet connection.<\/p>\n

“I feel like I\u2019m paying back a debt because this community has provided so much for me.” — Kainalu Seales<\/span><\/p>\n

“There are residents living on appropriated land that do not currently have access to electricity or internet,” Alling explained.<\/p>\n

On November 23, the pair traveled to Molokaʻi<\/span> and helped provide internet access for nearly 50 residents from several families. For Seales, the project holds personal significance. Growing up on Molokaʻi<\/span>, he experienced the community\u2019s collaborative spirit of sharing resources, from hunting to fishing.<\/p>\n

“I feel like I\u2019m paying back a debt because this community has provided so much for me,” he said.<\/p>\n

Connectivity, educational opportunities<\/h2>\n
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Andrew Alling<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The project\u2019s impact extends beyond immediate internet access. Alling emphasized the educational opportunities this connectivity will create, particularly for the island\u2019s youth.<\/p>\n

“Getting the children connected to the internet is going to unlock a lot of doors for opportunities, particularly education,” he noted, highlighting how access to online resources can teach valuable skills.<\/p>\n

Seales, who participated in the UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa College of Engineering\u2019s Junior Engineers Summer STEM<\/abbr> Experience<\/a> this year, reflected on his own journey, acknowledging that he had to leave Molokaʻi<\/span> to access opportunities.<\/p>\n

“I had to leave Molokaʻi<\/span> to get these opportunities,” he said. “It\u2019s sad that kids on Molokaʻi<\/span> wouldn\u2019t have been given these opportunities if they stayed.”<\/p>\n

The pair received $2,000 in funding for the project through the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Microwave Theory and Technology Society UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa chapter. They stressed that meaningful change doesn\u2019t require extraordinary resources or expertise.<\/p>\n

“You can be a regular person and make a difference,” Seales said. “It just takes inspiration and knowing to actually go out and do something.”<\/p>\n

The internet installation is just one part of a larger micro-grid project aimed at providing solar and wind energy to Molokaʻi<\/span>\u2019s homestead communities. The students plan to continue their work, with another visit to the island scheduled in the coming months.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

On November 23, they helped provide internet access for nearly 50 residents from several families.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[26],"tags":[179,1592,182,1466,9],"class_list":["post-207924","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community","tag-college-of-engineering","tag-electrical-and-computer-engineering","tag-engineering","tag-manoa-enhancing-student-success","tag-uh-manoa","entry","has-media"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t