List of Television Stations in Hawaii - Early Conversion To DT

Early Conversion To DT

On January 15, 2009, Hawaii became the first state in the United States to permanently have its television stations switch from analog to digital early. Hawaii's full-power TV stations, including network affiliates and independent stations, ceased analog broadcasting at noon on that date. With the exception of residents on Kauai, households that receive TV signals over the air will need to connect a converter box to sets in order to continue watching TV, since Kauai is the only part of Hawaii that receives over-the-air television signals via low-power translators that are not affected by the DTV transition.

Existing analog facilities at Maui's Haleakalā volcano are to be removed due to ongoing interference with astronomy equipment operated under the watchful eye of the United States Department of Defense and the University of Hawaiʻi. The digital stations are being deployed using new facilities at Ulupalakua and the old towers will be removed before the Hawaiian petrels' nesting season begins in March. By making the switch early, the broadcast towers atop Haleakalā near the birds' nesting grounds can be dismantled without interfering with their habits.