Meet the 2025 Kokua Community Champions: Alisha Medeiros & Rena Hwang
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 Alisha Medeiros (Hawaii Island, Fleet) and Rena Hwang (Oahu, HEI President’s Office) who are designating their rewards to advance educational opportunities for Hawaii’s next generation.
Uplifting a generation of learners — Alisha Medeiros
Balancing family, work and community service is all in a day’s fun for Alisha Medeiros, fleet services program manager for Hawaiian Electric’s Hawaii Island operations, who joined the utility in 2007. Alisha often involves her two daughters Alayna (13) and Alexi (12) in her volunteer activities so they can learn through her actions that kindness and community go hand in hand. To Alisha, volunteering is not about recognition, it’s about making her community a better place.
Alisha, wearing reindeer ears, is flanked by her daughters Alayna and Alexi at the 2025 Hilo Christmas Parade.
From participating in numerous charity and nonprofit walks that raise awareness and support for worthy causes to collecting food donations, fostering positive relationships between law enforcement and disadvantaged children through Heroes and Helpers in Hilo, and helping to restore native forests, Alisha’s impact can be seen by many. She often puts her crafting skills and Cricut talents to use by making thoughtful handmade gifts for other volunteers, reminding everyone involved that their efforts are valued and celebrated.
“Being nominated as a Kokua Champion is an honor,” said Alisha. She selected the Pauahi Foundation as the recipient of the $1,000 donation and credits the nonprofit for upholding the values that shaped her education and identity.
“As a proud graduate of Kamehameha Schools (Kapalama), I’ve always carried a deep sense of gratitude for the opportunities that Ke Alii Bernice Pauahi Bishop made possible through her vision and her will. I wanted the donation to reflect both my personal journey and my commitment to supporting Pauahi’s legacy.”
In 2018, Alisha and her family helped plant native trees at the Puuwaawaa Forest Reserve during a volunteer event. “Contributing to the restoration of native forests felt like a natural extension of Pauahi’s legacy of stewardship and service.” — Alisha Medeiros
“The Foundation plays a vital role in extending educational opportunities to the Native Hawaiian community and ensuring that Pauahi’s wishes continue to uplift generations of learners,” added Alisha. “The donation is a gesture of appreciation and a reaffirmation of my support for Pauahi’s will, her vision and the thriving future we want for our lahui (Hawaiian people). Giving back through the Pauahi Foundation is my way of honoring the legacy that once invested in me and helping ensure that these opportunities remain strong for those who follow.”
Supporting the next generation of leaders — Rena Hwang
“Growing up in Pearl City, Oahu, my parents instilled in me that developing a good education, working hard and giving back to others are the most important things in life,” said Rena Hwang, executive assistant to the HEI president and CEO.
Rena Hwang with students from her alma mater Sacred Hearts Academy. Photo courtesy of Sacred Hearts Academy.
The local girl and go getter took this philosophy to heart and after graduating from Sacred Hearts Academy in Honolulu, Rena earned an associate’s in liberal arts from UH Leeward Community College, a B.A. in Sociology from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and a B.S., Legal Assistant, from UH Kapiolani Community College.
Over a career that included more than a decade as an executive assistant at American Savings Bank and 16 years at HEI as an administrator supporting the past and current president and CEO, Rena also was active in Chinese language, arts and the local Chinatown festivities.
Rena also is a former director for the Palolo Chinese Home and most recently in February 2025 she became a board member of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, demonstrating her keen interest in perpetuating her culture and serving her community.
Rena, third from left, at her induction into board of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii.
Most notably, Rena’s leadership and organizational skills were called upon for her latest volunteer position as vice president of the Narcissus Festival, the signature event for the Hawaii Chinese and broader community which involves long hours to plan, coordinate and collaborate. She willingly volunteered to take over leadership of the festival to keep this time-honored tradition alive for the next generation of Narcissus queens and princesses.
Also, during the June to November hurricane season Rena volunteered at community outreach fairs to educate the public about emergency preparedness resources and tools.
Rena shares emergency preparedness information with windward residents during an event at Kailua Town Center Mall.
“The selection of Sacred Hearts Academy Scholarship Fund for the HEI/Hawaiian Electric donation is close to my heart,” said Rena. “Having attended and previously served as a Trustee of the school, it made me realize that education is indeed an important element to an individual’s success. This will give a young woman with financial need the opportunity to receive an all-girls Catholic education, with the school providing the foundation and tools for the next generation of leaders. Mahalo to the HEI Charitable Foundation for this recognition and supporting our employees in giving back to our Hawaii community.”
Mahalo to Alisha and Rena for helping to support Hawaii’s youth on their paths to success!
About the Author: Sharon Higa
