Meet the 2025 Kokua Champions: Ellen Nashiwa & Chelsey Nabor

The Kokua Community Champion Service Award honors individual employees at HEI and Hawaiian Electric who’ve demonstrated exemplary volunteer service over the past year and rewards them by donating $1,000 to a charitable organization of their choice. In 2025, six outstanding employee volunteers were nominated by their peers and selected based on their level of involvement and impact on the community. This week let’s meet Ellen Nashiwa (Key Account Management, Maui) and Chelsey Nabor (Billing, Oahu), who are both donating their awards to support food security in their communities.

Helping her Maui community thrive: Ellen Nashiwa

As a proud great-granddaughter of Japanese immigrants who worked on a sugar plantation, Ellen Nashiwa was born and raised on Maui as nikkei yonsei, fourth-generation Japanese. The Baldwin High School graduate earned a B.A. in International Studies with a minor in Business from the University of Denver, and a MIM/MBA from an institution which is now part of Arizona State University.

“After working in the Bay Area, my husband and I moved back home so our children could experience the beauty of Maui, richness of blended culture and warmth of a supportive community of family and friends,” said Ellen, who joined Hawaiian Electric’s Maui County operations in 2006 as an integrated resource planning specialist. She held successive roles in various divisions before taking on her current position at the start of 2025 as a commercial client manager in customer service.

When asked why she volunteers, Ellen replied, “We were raised to be respectful and helpful. If you can help lighten someone’s day, even in a small way, just do it. From local opportunities such as schools or youth sports to broader missions such as food security, physical and mental health, volunteers help our community thrive. I want to do my part to support our community that my children and future generations can be proud to call home.”

Throughout 2025, Ellen volunteered weekends to educate Maui residents about the company’s Wildfire Safety Strategy and Public Safety Power Shutoff program, picked up litter during the company’s Adopt-A-Highway Cleanup event along Puunene Avenue in Kahului, served elders at an annual Kupuna Luncheon, and cleared debris and vegetation during a community service workday to build a firebreak around the historic Lahainaluna High School. Her community-minded spirit includes previously serving on the board of Maui United Way and working behind the scenes as a volunteer for the Maui High baseball team.

“There are so many deserving nonprofits which provide essential services to our community that need support,” said Ellen, after learning in November she was named one of the 2025 Kokua Champions. “I believe with the approaching holidays and the federal furloughs, food security is top of mind for many so I would like to designate the Maui Food Bank to receive the charitable donation.”

The Maui Food Bank is Maui County’s primary safety net for hunger relief, annually providing nearly 8 million pounds of safe and nutritious food to individuals, families, kids, the working poor, seniors on fixed incomes, houseless and anyone at risk of going hungry. The nonprofit operates three warehouses in Kahului, Wailuku and Lahaina, and offers around four dozen food distribution sites across Maui, Lanai and Molokai. To learn where to drop off food donations or find a distribution site, visit mauifoodbank.org.

Making a positive community impact: Chelsey Nabor

Although she joined Hawaiian Electric just over two years ago as a customer care representative and recently transitioned to a billing specialist role, Chelsey Nabor quickly won the hearts of her colleagues who recognized her optimism, caring spirit and remarkable initiative and determination to be involved in community service.

The Moanalua High School graduate grew up in Pearl City and started volunteering at a young age. “I did highway and wetland (loi) cleanups,” said Chelsey, who went back to school during the pandemic to earn an associate degree from Eastern Gateway Community College and is currently pursuing a BS/MS in Information Technology from the online Western Governors University.

“Volunteering has always been a way for me to connect with my community and give back. Over the years I’ve seen how even small acts of service can create deep and meaningful change. By continuing to volunteer regularly, it allows me to make valuable bonds and inspires me to continue helping others,” Chelsey added.

In 2025, Chelsey was among the company volunteers who pulled weeds and planted fruits and vegetables at Mao Organic Farm in Waianae, raised awareness of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities through the Best Buddies Friendship Walk, participated in Mothers Against Drunk Driving’s signature “Walk Like MADD” 5K event to raise awareness and funds to end impaired driving, packed food kits for Hawaii Foodbank, painted over graffiti and picked up litter during a Chinatown Cleanup, and helped with setup, breakdown and doggie activities at the Guide Dogs of Hawaii’s second annual Pawina fundraiser event which supports Hawaii’s blind and visually impaired residents.

In addition, Chelsey has supported colleagues at the Hoola Aina Pilipili at UH Manoa and an Imu Day at Kakoo Oiwi, racking up many volunteer hours in support of worthy causes and creating meaningful connections with her peers at Hawaiian Electric as well as those in the communities she serves.

When asked what nonprofit she would like to support with her Kokua Champion reward, Chelsey immediately replied, “I choose to support the Hawaii Foodbank due to recent cuts to SNAP benefits and the ongoing rise in food insecurity for many Hawaii households. After volunteering with the nonprofit and creating food boxes, I saw firsthand how many households rely on this resource. I know this donation is going to a vital organization that will make a direct and immediate impact on our community.”

The Hawaii Foodbank has more than 200 food partner agencies on Oahu and Kauai helping to distribute and serve food through local food pantries, homeless shelters, soup kitchens, domestic abuse shelters, rehabilitation centers and more. In 2024, Hawaii Foodbank distributed more than 21.2 million pounds of food on Oahu and Kauai. The persistent need for food and the increase in food prices has resulted in an average of over 154,000 people on Oahu and Kauai turning to Hawaii Foodbank for help each month. To help support Hawaii Foodbank and its mission to nourish our ohana today and end hunger tomorrow, visit hawaiifoodbank.org.

Congratulations Ellen and Chelsey, you’re truly deserving of the Kokua Community Champion Service Award!