willowjane

I use Verizon phone service and I am wondering if I need to get a special card or anything for the Big Island. This may be a dumb question but I can't seem to find the answer on the website. Thanks

kayd

Verizon's coverage map shows service for most of the islands:
http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/C...ype=NEWREQUEST

montereybob

No card needed.

charnees

Just remember when you use your cell phone to make local calls you have to dial 1+ the area code.

montereybob

Well, 1+ is only needed on landlines. Just the area code on cell phones.

lcuy

Fortunately for the tourists, they are not expected to communicate over the local coconut wireless.

It is really quite amazing, but this crazy place has cell service just like the other 49 states.

sylvia3

Well, cut folks some slack; many aren't at all sure about new technology and how it works (satellites? towers? coverage?).
I can go into Rocky Mountain National Park (close to Denver and several cities) and not have coverage.
OP did say "This may be a dumb question" but don't think sarcasm was called for.

lcuy

Maybe not, but I get so tired of hearing people from the mainland say "we don't ship outside the US", or "Sorry, we don't return international calls". Hawaii is the 50th US state and it has been one for over 50 years.

ehovis

How true, yesterday my bank told me, to transfer money to
Bank of Hawaii, I needed to go under international transfer.
I politely explained why that didn't make sense. She then
found it under domestic.
Our last trip to Big island, we didn't find any areas that
didn't have good reception, even in Volcano Park.

sylvia3

Try being a citizen of poor New Mexico; even people in the government think they belong to Mexico!
And Hawaii and Alaska are both subject to "[continental] U.S. shipping only; even though Alaska is on the continent.
People have misconceptions about every state in the union (when I left rural upstate NY to attend college, everyone though NY was nothing but NYC). No reason to get a chip.

willowjane

I am aware that it is a state. I was mainly concerned about reception. I have areas around the city where I live and I lose reception occasionally. I was just thinking that it is remote and perhaps the service was sketchy - I wasn't sure if there was something I could buy to help that problem...I am sorry if I offended you. I would ask the same question if I were going out West to a remote area.

sf7307

Actually, compared to the wild west, Hawaii isn't remote at all. It's far from the mainland, but not remote in and of itself. Plenty of cell towers, very good reception everywhere I've been.

sylvia3

Better there than some spots 40 miles from Denver!

willowjane

thanks! that is exactly what I wanted to know!

martym

We've been on the BI many times and the only place we've experienced no cell service is between Honokaa and Waipio Vally in Hamakua. And the service is somewhat spotty in lower Puna--around Kapoho.

clshelton2222

Thanks willowjane for asking this question! I am going to Hawaii next year, and I had the same question!

tenthumbs

Willowjane~I have Verizon, and I used my cell in Hilo, and I had good reception.