The Hawaiian Islands Fiber Link (HIFL) is a 740-kilometer (460-mile) submarine optical fiber cable system connecting the Hawaiian Islands to improve and expand high-speed broadband internet throughout the State of Hawai’i.

The HIFL cable system is a carrier-neutral, open-access system with 6 landing sites. The cable runs from Nukoli‘i beach on Kauai to Barber’s Point on Oahu, the Molokai Yacht Club, Manele Harbor on Lanai, and Kahului Harbor on Maui before reaching Hawaiii island, where it lands at Keaukaha Beach and connects to the Pacific Aquaculture and Coastal Resources Center (PACRC), University of Hawai'i at Hilo

TheHIFL cable system consists of 24 fiber pairs with a design life of 25 years.

The HIFL project is a key component of Connect Kākou, the state’s broadband initiative, a top priority of the Gov. Josh Green administration. Under the direction of Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke, Connect Kākou ensures that people from all walks of life have reliable and affordable access to high-speed internet.

The HIFL project is implemented with a public-private partnership between the University of Hawaiʻi (UH) and Ocean Networks, Inc. (ONI). ONI is responsible for the supply, construction, operations and maintenance of the HIFL cable system. 

The HIFLproject is expected to cost $120 million - $140 million. Financing includes a combination of federal grants and private equity/debt secured by ONI. Federal grants are the primary sources of funds, with $109 million to $115 million in a total.

The HIFL project is part of the larger Connect Kākou initiative—which has received over $500 million in combined federal and state support—the specific grants allocated to the HIFL subsea system come from two major federal programs:

• Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund (CPF): The U.S. Department of the Treasury awarded Hawaii $115.5 million in 2023. Of this, $101.7 million was specifically designated for the Hawaii Subsea Middle Mile Program to build the inter-island fiber system. In 2025, the program plans were revised to re-allocate all relevant CPF funds to the subsea program.

• Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program: The state recently received final approval for nearly $149 million in BEAD funding. While much of this is for "last-mile" connectivity to homes, it complements the subsea backbone by connecting communities to the new inter-island lines.

Ocean Networks, Inc. (ONI) has selected Prysmian to supply approximately 740 kilometers of state-of-the-art submarine cable, and International Telecom Inc. (IT) to provide essential engineering and installation services for the HIFL system.

The HIFL cable system is expected to be ready for service in 2027.