Get to know Paul Ng, automotive service professional on Oahu
Many people see our bucket trucks and company vehicles out in the field every day, but have you ever thought about the team that works behind the scenes to keep our vehicles in top shape? From repairing and maintaining our vehicles to responding to trouble calls, our fleet department plays a critical role in helping our crews keep the lights on for our communities.
In honor of National Automotive Service Professionals Day on June 12, 2026, we are spotlighting a member of our fleet department to learn more about the important work they do every day.
Towards the end of April, I had the opportunity to interview Paul Ng, one of our working foremen on Oahu, to get a glimpse of what he does each day. Paul joined the company over 16 years ago as a mechanic and worked his way up to becoming the hydraulic shop working foreman.
Prior to joining Hawaiian Electric, Paul started his career working as an automotive mechanic at Acura. He came over to Hawaiian Electric to expand his skillset, and he was able to do just that! “All my hydraulic, crane, and aerial equipment experience came from Hawaiian Electric,” says Paul.
As a hydraulics shop working foreman, Paul underwent extensive training to learn how to maintain and repair specialized equipment such as our bucket trucks and boom lifts. Our fleet team prides themselves on maintaining a training program for their mechanics, which includes training directly from the manufacturers who build our vehicles and equipment. The instructors will travel to Hawaii to teach our mechanics how to properly operate, maintain, and repair the equipment.
Paul also shared how our maintenance standards go above and beyond the national requirements. For example, the national standard for vehicle maintenance only requires one major inspection or repair per year. However, at Hawaiian Electric, we do those checks twice a year. Paul explained that we do the extra check to ensure that our units are in great shape and always ready to support our crews.
As we walked through the garage, Paul showed me the area where the mechanics keep their toolboxes. One interesting fact I learned during my visit is that all mechanics must purchase their own tools out of pocket. “If you’re considering becoming a mechanic, be prepared to invest in yourself and to buy tools,” says Paul. Paul explained that this is an industry standard for mechanics in the United States. The toolboxes and tools can cost up to $20,000!
When asked to describe a typical day in the garage, Paul explained that no two days are the same. As a hydraulic working foreman, Paul typically works the day shift starting from 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. However, the other mechanics in our fleet department rotate working the night shift which is from 3 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. to ensure support is available around the clock.
The fleet team typically starts their day off with the tailboard meeting to review scheduled maintenance, inspections, and repair work. However, their plans can change quickly when trouble calls come in from crews or employees driving company vehicles. “We try to follow a plan, but our priority is to respond to trouble calls,” Paul explains.
Trouble calls can range from flat tires and dead batteries to booms getting stuck in the air. Whenever a call comes in, Paul and our other mechanics immediately stop what they are working on and head out to assist. Whether it’s during the day or in the middle of the night, someone from our fleet team is always ready to respond.
After spending time with Paul, I have a greater appreciation for the entire fleet team. Their work often occurs behind the scenes, but their impact is seen across our communities each time our crews head safely out to the field. They truly are unsung heroes who help keep the lights on for our communities.
Mahalo to Paul and the rest of the fleet team for all your hard work! Because of everything you do, our employees can trust that our vehicles are ready to go, so they can focus on completing their jobs as safely and efficiently as possible.
If you are interested in joining the fleet team, we encourage you to apply for an open position on our website at hawaiianelectric.com/careers.
About the Author: Emily Miyashiro
