Powering the future: Meet intern Zakariya Tamimi

Every summer, Hawaiian Electric welcomes a new generation of interns who bring a fresh perspective, curiosity, and energy to projects that keep our islands powered. For Hilo-based substation engineering intern Zakariya Tamimi, an entering mechanical engineering sophomore at University of Hawaii at Manoa, that means diving straight into substation work that will shape the Hawaii Island infrastructure for decades to come.

Zakariya grew up in Hilo doing robotics since middle school and completed Waiakea high school’s engineering program. That hands-on foundation, plus a strong engineering community, helped shape him along the way, which is part of why he wanted to intern with Hawaiian Electric. “I want to be able to do an internship at a company that helps give back to the community, working alongside others on a similar path as me,” said Zakariya.

The substation in Hilo team plays a crucial role in getting power safely from generation to your home. This is the critical midpoint between the power plant and your neighborhood, and this summer, Zakariya is helping modernize that system for the future under his mentor and supervising engineer Leanne King.

This summer, his main project is rebuilding Hilo substation’s record books — some of which are over 40 years old! With these record books, he documents the technology incorporated in today’s electrical grid on Hawaii Island. On top of this, he’s also tackling a wide range of side projects, one being hands-on work that involves redesigning and replacing an outdated battery that no longer fits with the existing concrete pad. Plus, Zakariya gets to tag along on summer projects in Kona to shadow other substation engineers and linemen.

In Hilo, substation work means talking to everyone from linemen to field crew, and for Zakariya, that communication directly shapes how he approaches design. “We get a good understanding on how our design will impact a lineman. Will it be painful for them to get their job done?” explains Zakariya. “The goal is to make the job easier for everyone else by understanding what they do.”

His advice to future interns: “Go in with the mindset that you don’t know everything.” Real workplace experience, he says, is very different from what he’s learned in class. By staying open-minded, it has helped him learn faster and hit the ground running.