Hawaii Digital Changeover to Happen Before Mainland

December 18th, 2008

Thanks to a large, nocturnal bird, Hawaii will become an all-digital TV market a month ahead of the rest of the country.  While the national switchover from analog signals is scheduled for February 17th next year, Hawaii will have made the conversion on January 15th.

That’s because of the breeding habits of the ‘ua‘u, or Hawaiian petrel.  The ‘ua‘u is an endangered species, and it happens to breed near the to-be-demolished analog facilities near the summit of Haleakala on Maui in February.

The decision to move up the conversion followed consultations with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.  It may have an additional benefit: Hawaii will be the first state to convert and will be able to receive assistance from federal agencies, while, on February 17th, no single area in the country will be getting much attention.  An estimated 20 million households nationwide still receiving analog signals will be making the switch.

Even if you’re planning to visit our islands in January or February, all this will not concern you.  Hawaii hotels and resorts have been all-digital for some time now.

Entry Filed under: Big Island, Kauai, Maui, Oahu