Since 1993, a group of native people of Hawai’i have formed their own sovereign nation, tiny though it may be, in the village of Pu’uhonua o Waimanalo. But in today’s globally tied world, a nation without a powerful Internet connection has little chance of success. The village had trouble getting resources. This is just one of the areas where the Internet Society was able to help, by supporting the community to set up their own Internet: a community network. This report shows how the community was able to build their own internet from the ground up.
Impact / Outcome
The Internet on Pu‘uhonua o Waimānalo represents a connection to the global marketplace, and a chance for the people there to shine in education and entrepreneurship. Already, the nation’s people are harvesting the power of enhanced Internet connection via the community network. Striking out as an independent country is incredibly hard with a few people and only a small area of land. The people there have created their own infrastructure. They’ve built their own housing and businesses, taken over their own schooling, and worked with state and federal agencies and companies to pipe in electricity and other necessary amenities.
Funding sources
Public/Private
Key Metrics
Building an internet network, in a farming community, from the ground up
Operating model
Public-private partnershipYear published
01 January 2021