Our Story
- Hawaii Electric Light History
- 1890: The Beginning of Hawaii Electric Light
- 1930: Electrifying Hawaii Island
- 1940: More Power to the Big Island
- 1950: Growth Continues
- 1960: Construction Boom
- 1970: Hawaii Electric Light Company is Formed
- 1980: Growth From Tourism
- 1990: Renewable Power
- 2000: Powering Our Communities
- 2005: Building Energy Partnerships
- 2010: Clean Energy Future
Growth From Tourism
images/banners/nav_carousel/carousel_our_story.jpgThe Big Island of Hawaii, with its natural beauty, resources, and special environment that lends itself to scientific research, experienced extraordinary growth in the 80s. The visitor and construction industries were the leaders in the island's economy in 1988, coupled with resort development, created new opportunities for Hawaii Electric Light.
As part of its program to improve voltage and reliability in West Hawaii, Hawaii Electric Light completed the longest transmission line on its system. The 51-mile transmission line runs from Hilo, through the saddle between the volcanic mountains of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, to a substation in West Hawaii. Additionally, Hawaii Electric Light's 16-mw combustion turbine at the Keahole power plant came on line October 1989.
