Exploring the history of downtown Honolulu’s power plant
Every day on my way to work, I see the deactivated Honolulu Power Plant sitting at the end of Alakea Street in downtown Honolulu, and I often wondered what the inside looked like. At the end of last year, our government and community relations, and corporate communications process area had the opportunity to tour the facility.
Lei Day and Merrie Monarch Festival celebrate culture and community
Today is Lei Day in Hawaii, one of many celebrations rooted in our state’s rich culture and diverse communities. Lei Day is about sharing aloha and honoring the relationships that connect us.
Shop Small & Support Local: Where to grab matcha in downtown Honolulu/Chinatown
Occasionally, when walking through downtown or driving in the area, I see our crews and contractors hard at work, and I’m always amazed at the time and effort they put into servicing our grid. I don’t know how to fix a vault or inspect manholes to support the area, but there is one thing I know a bit more about: matcha and the many local businesses in the neighborhood that make great lattes.
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Business/Commercial, Electric Vehicles
Electric Garage Talk: King's Transport Refrigeration - Leading the charge in sustainable cold storage solutions
Founded in 2011, Pacific Van Liners LLC (DBA King’s Transport Refrigeration & Bus AC Services) is a family business headquartered on Oahu and run by Santos and Nikki Gomez. Over the years, it has grown into a specialized service provider for refrigerated transport equipment in Hawaii, covering Oahu, Kauai, and Hawaii Island (and soon Maui).
Community, Outages, Residential
Some first-generation Mililani kids, homes and utility lines nearing age 50
Growing up in a young master-planned community, it was typical for every fourth house on your street to look almost exactly like yours. What wasn’t typical was seeing a utility pole in your neighborhood since Castle & Cooke developed Mililani with the utilities underground. But the aging electrical infrastructure has started to cause frequent outages in some older neighborhoods.
Emergency Preparedness, Safety
Collaborating with the community during a PSPS
On May 14, 2025, our Emergency Planning and Preparedness team held a tabletop exercise to strengthen our work and communication with external stakeholders, including our partner organizations and customers.
Emergency Preparedness, Safety
Preparedness means supporting our employees and their ohana
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.
Community, Energy Savings
A simple wish for Mother’s Day: Flip the switch
So instead, I have a simple energy-saving request of Jake, who is 17. Perhaps, for the sake of the planet and my sanity, he could remember to turn off his night light.
Emergency Preparedness, Safety
Pet Preparedness: Building an emergency kit
When disaster strikes, we often focus on our own safety. We make sure to have food, water, flashlights, and other essentials that you may need in an emergency — but what about our pets?
Community, Outages
Crews upgrade power cables in Nanakuli to address outages
As a communications specialist, it’s part of my job to monitor outages and at times field calls from local media outlets. Unfortunately, we respond to inquiries about outages in some areas more frequently than others. Of late, Nanakuli has had more than its fair share of outages. It’s why our company has embarked on a major project to replace direct-buried cables that are at the root of the problem.
Community, Energy Savings
Energy savings and sustainable living in the city
Sometimes city life can be overwhelming and “detached” from nature, but luckily the building I live in prioritizes energy efficiency, and I have started to incorporate other simple energy-saving habits and sustainable living practices into my life to save money and do my part for our aina, even from my 450-square-foot apartment.
Community Solar, Distributed Energy Resources, Renewable Energy, Solar
Mapping Hawaiian Electric’s road to energy independence
In my short time at the company the view from my office has certainly changed, and I’ve seen our energy landscape transform in meaningful and important ways. You can see it clearly in the Sustainability Reports and Maps we’ve published over the years.
Electric Vehicles, Renewable Energy
Electric Garage Talk: Driven by Tony
Meet Tony Benton, a lifelong car enthusiast and rideshare driver living in Honolulu. When his gas-powered car gave out, he made the leap into the electric lane with a Chevy Bolt — and hasn’t looked back. In this candid conversation, Tony shares what it’s like switching to an EV as a full-time driver.
