Hawaiian Islands Fiber Link (HIFL)

Overview

The Hawaiian Islands Fiber Link (HIFL) is a domestic submarine cable system serving the state of Hawaii, United States. Spanning approximately 740 kilometers, the cable interconnects multiple islands across the Hawaiian archipelago, providing intra-island connectivity within a single U.S. state. It is planned for service readiness in 2026.

Route and Landings

All six landing points are located in Hawaii, United States. The cable reaches Barber's Point on Oahu, Hilo on the Big Island, Kahului on Maui, Kaunakakai on Molokai, Lihue on Kauai, and Manele Bay on Lanai. This distribution across six distinct Hawaiian islands reflects the cable's role as an inter-island fiber network.

Ownership and Operators

HIFL is jointly owned by Ocean Networks and the University of Hawai'i. The involvement of the University of Hawai'i points to an academic and research dimension alongside commercial operations, positioning the cable to serve both institutional and general connectivity needs across the island chain.

Status and Timeline

HIFL is planned for service with a ready-for-service date of 2026. The cable is currently in a pre-service phase, with deployment expected to be completed within that year.

Regional Context

Unlike most submarine cables landing in the United States that serve long-haul transoceanic routes — such as the Southern Cross Cable Network at 30,500 kilometers, the Asia-America Gateway Cable System at 20,000 kilometers, or the forthcoming Project Waterworth at 50,000 kilometers — HIFL is a compact, 740-kilometer intra-state system. Its scope is deliberately local, addressing connectivity between the individual islands of Hawaii rather than linking the continental United States to international destinations. Among cables sharing a 2026 ready-for-service target, Bulikula spans 21,600 kilometers by comparison, underscoring how HIFL occupies a different scale and purpose entirely.

Strategic Role

By landing on six Hawaiian islands, HIFL provides a fiber-based network that spans the core of the Hawaiian island chain. The cable connects communities on Oahu, the Big Island, Maui, Molokai, Kauai, and Lanai, extending dedicated submarine fiber capacity to islands that may otherwise depend on more limited connectivity infrastructure. The partnership between Ocean Networks and the University of Hawai'i suggests the cable will support a range of users, including research institutions, across the archipelago.