Hearing Carry-Over (HCO) is the ideal solution for you if you want to listen and type on your phone calls. 

This service is designed for people who are unable to speak but can hear.

HCO allows callers with hearing who are unable to speak to listen to the person they are calling.  The HCO user types his/her conversation for the Relay Operator to read aloud to the other caller.

This relay service is available in English-to-English and Spanish-to-Spanish.

The Relay Hawaii Customer Profile allows you to store your relay call preferences and helps speed up call processing.

How Does Hearing Carry-Over (HCO) Relay Work?

Just dial 711 (or 800-447-5990 for English or 877-447-7261 for Spanish) on the HCO user’s text telephone/teletypewriter (TTY) or VCO phone and the Relay Operator will answer, “Aloha Relay Hawaii OPR 8234” (for Relay Operator identification), “F” or “M” (for Relay Operator gender).”

Type in the area code and telephone number the HCO user wishes to call and type “GA” (Go Ahead).  The Relay Operator will dial the number and connect to the other party.

  • 1

    The HCO user types her/his words to the Relay Operator.

  • 2

    The Relay Operator reads the HCO’s typed message aloud to the other party.

  • 3

    The other party listens and speaks directly to the HCO user.

To conclude the call, type “GA to SK” (“Stop Keying”) to indicate that the HCO user is ready to hang up.

Video: How does a Hearing Carry-Over (HCO) call work?

Here’s how an HCO user, Don, communicates with a standard phone user named Dennis at an auto shop.

 

Other HCO Features

Please specify to the relay operator the HCO call type you would like to make.

HCO TO TTY

You, the HCO user, listen while the relay operator reads aloud the TTY user’s typed words.  You type directly to the TTY user.

HCO TO HCO

The relay operator reads aloud both of the HCO users’ typed words.