Life without cable TV or internet is no longer an option for most of us. It is our way of life and we do not want to be cut off and isolated without any access.

If you are moving to Hawaii, it may require some planning ahead to stay connected. Tech in Hawaii sometimes runs on Hawaiian Time. If you do not know what Hawaiian Time is, you will learn. The same relaxed atmosphere that makes Hawaii a serious five-star attraction for visitors from around the world, can be the thing that drives you crazy if you are a techie trying to get your online services up and going, and fully operational.

On the Big Island of Hawaii the best way to get internet service is to order cable television service, and then the internet is included. However, this is where it gets interesting.

Your rental apartment may not have these services already, so you need to order them new. This takes time. Hawaiian time.

As soon as you have signed your rental agreement, call the cable company immediately to schedule your appointment for new service installation. They may tell you a ridiculous date off in the future as much as four to six weeks. There may be talk of trying to get to you sooner (which you will assume will be the case), but really what they are telling you is that the distant date is when they will really be out to your condo, house, or apartment. Seriously.

In the meantime your task will be to acquire what you need for the hook-up on your end. Moving to the Big Island usually means that you arrived with a suitcase or two and that’s it. It’s extraordinarily expensive to ship things on a boat to Hawaii.

You can try looking at second hand stores like the Salvation Army (“Sallie Shop” as it is known there) or Goodwill Industries, but if you find a TV I would be surprised. They are rare.

Shopping online may get you everything you need, which is probably a TV, a DVD player, and a wireless router for your laptop. Look for quality things at fair prices. If you need a PC or surge protector, you can also buy these online.

Once the day comes for your installation, you can expect the cable company staff to get to work and get you connected back to the twenty first century with cable television and wireless internet. Then you will have the best of both worlds: the aloha spirit of Hawaii, and the tech connection for your home electronics.

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