Preparedness means supporting our employees and their ohana

May 18–24, 2025 is Hurricane Preparedness Week in Hawaii. But at Hawaiian Electric, being prepared isn’t something we focus on just one week out of the year — it’s a priority every single day.

On Wednesday, May 14, 2025, I attended our Emergency Preparedness Fair for employees and their ohana. We were joined by our external partners including the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, the Department of Emergency Management, and the Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization. It was a great chance to connect with them and learn more about the resources they offer to help keep our communities safe. As I visited each booth, I was able to pick up practical tips like what to pack in a go bag and how to sign up for emergency alerts.

Each employee received a starter go bag and visited each booth in a fun, “trick-or-treat” style. As we made our way around, we received useful emergency items for our go bags like water storage bags from the Board of Water Supply and an emergency planning guide from the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency. It was a fun and effective way to encourage our employees and their ohana to start prepping for the upcoming hurricane season. I left the fair feeling excited to share what I learned with my own friends and family so they can stay prepared too.

What stood out most was how Hawaiian Electric welcomed our family members to attend the fair. Including them was a great reminder that readiness starts at home. Disasters don’t just impact our jobs; they also affect our everyday lives. When our loved ones know how to stay safe and prepared, it’s easier for us to focus on our jobs and support our customers when they need us most.

Lydia Mertyris, our manager for emergency planning and preparedness, explained it best, “We have a policy that requires employees to help during emergencies, so we want to make sure their families are prepared — that they are prepared at home and their ohana knows what do during an emergency — so they can show up to work focused and not worry about what’s going on at home.”

A big mahalo to our Emergency Planning and Preparedness team for organizing this event, and to all the agencies and organizations who took the time to share their knowledge and resources. Events like this play a crucial role in strengthening our community’s resilience.

With just a few weeks left before the start of hurricane season, now is the perfect time to prepare. Start by packing a go bag or sitting down with your family to create an evacuation plan! For more information, visit: hawaiianelectric.com/prepare.

We hope you and your ohana stay safe this hurricane season!