Dedicated volunteers make the holidays brighter
During the holiday season, drivers heading east on the H-1 Freeway past the Koko Head cutoff can see the Puu O Kaimuki Park Christmas tree twinkling colorfully in the night skies. It’s a sight that draws gasps of delight and inspires feelings of joy and hope.
New paint, new lights, more memories: Big Ben brings holiday cheer to Hilo
The Downtown Hilo Christmas Lights Parade has always been a staple holiday tradition for me and the Hilo community, signaling the beginning of the holiday season with festive lights, music, and massive floats of Christmas decorations.
Electric Garage Talk: Cynthia and her IONIQ, Esther
When Cynthia Carlton-Jarmon first learned to drive on her family’s farm in North Carolina — driving tractors, pickup trucks at nine, and school buses in high school — she never imagined she’d one day be zipping around Oahu in a sleek electric vehicle (EV) named Esther.
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Community
A father’s influence on energy savings and sustainability
My dad, Dave Okamura, has been an electrical engineer for Hawaiian Electric on Hawaii Island for 31 years, and he is one of the many people in my life who has inspired me. While I may not be following his specific career path, mostly because I am bad at math, I grew up surrounded by chatter about energy. Years later, I wouldn’t have imagined that I’d be working for the same company.
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.
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
Planting seeds of change at the Waianae Kai Forest Reserve
This past December, I started working at Hawaiian Electric as a digital communications and social media specialist. One of the reasons I was interested in joining the ohana was our commitment to Hawaii's community — not just in the everyday services we provide but in the impact we have in the everyday lives of Hawaii's people.
Community
Dad taught lessons in saving energy, serving customers
It’s amazing how much I learned from my father over the 50-plus years he was in my life. My dad, Richard Tangonan, passed away in early January and now that he’s gone, I’m struck by how much he taught me — everything from his energy-saving habits to customer service skills.
Community
Supporting robotics; investing in future engineers
For nearly 20 years, our company has supported robotics programs such as FIRST Robotics, FIRST Lego League, Botball and VEX robotics competitions knowing that the investment in these STEM programs would help Hawaii develop future leaders and innovators. If any of those students went on to join our Hawaiian Electric ohana — even better.
Community
Champions help to heal communities: Bryson Toma
Our next 2024 Kokua Champion, Bryson Toma, is a shift supervisor and leader of the Hawaii Island generation department, a role that helps to keep the lights on for our Big Island customers. The Hilo native is also a former Hawaii Army National Guard member who faithfully served our country as an Army medic from 1996 until his retirement in 2020.
Community
Champions help to heal communities: Samantha Takamura
Aside from exemplary volunteerism, the selection of a Kokua Community Service Champion is based on level of involvement and impact in the community, which our next champion Samantha “Sammy” Takamura has in spades.
Community
Champions help to heal communities: Jamila Jarmon
From modest beginnings to an astonishing record of achievements that include her recent selection to the Obama Foundation Leaders Program, Jamila Jarmon is a force to be reckoned with and she’s just getting started.
