Interim Changes
To reduce the risk of wildfires, we have developed a set of Interim Wildfire Safety Measures.
Wildfire Safety Symposium
Wildfire safety experts from utilities, agencies, research institutes and the state were invited to a two-day technical symposium focused on reducing Hawaii’s wildfire risk. Participants learned and shared insights about collective actions to keep our communities safe, discussed Hawaii’s wildfire risk areas, near-term mitigation actions, operational and emergency response needs and proposed long-term strategies for safety and grid resilience.
Hawaiian Electric provided updates on our actions taken to date to reduce wildfire risk, as well as gathered input from participants to improve and inform our long-term plans. Working together, we will address continuing and emerging threats posed by increasingly extreme weather and climate change.
Agenda
Day 1 – April 10, 2024
9:00 AM – 9:30 AM
Breakfast, Sign in, Informal Open House
Join personnel from Hawaiian Electric, Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization, and Firewise Communities for informal conversations.
9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
Symposium Welcome and Opening Remarks
Shelee Kimura, President and CEO, Hawaiian Electric
Kaiu Kimura, Executive Director, Imiloa Astronomy Center
10:30 AM – 11:00 AM
Introduction to Our Grid and Wildfire Safety Strategy Process
Colton Ching, SVP, Planning & Technology, Hawaiian Electric
11:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Celebrating Collective Action
Elizabeth Pickett, Co-Executive Director of Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization
Dr. Clay Trauernicht, Wildland Fire Science & Management, Univ. of Hawaii at Manoa
11:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Introduction to Climate Risks and Resilience
Elizabeth Pickett, Co-Executive Director of Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization
Michael Walker, Fire Protection Forester, Division of Forestry and Wildlife, DOFAW
Dr. Clay Trauernicht, Wildland Fire Science & Management, Univ. of Hawaii at Manoa
Tom Rolinkski, Fire Scientist, Southern California Edison
12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
Lunch & Networking
1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
Identifying Wildfire Risk Areas
Ian Fitzpatrick, Essential Energy (Australia) – Virtual
Breakout Discussions
2:30 PM – 4:00 PM
Wildfire Mitigations: Industry Practices and Lessons Learned
Jack Shearman, CEO, UMS Group
David Geier, CEO, Utility Safety Associates
Jonathan Woldmariam, Director, Wildfire Mitigation & Vegetation Mgmt., SDG&E
Scott Strenfel, Senior Director, Meteorology Operations & Fire Science, PG&E
Ian Fitzpatrick, Essential Energy (Australia) – Virtual
Shay Bahramirad, SVP T&D Strategy, LUMA Energy (Puerto Rico) – Virtual
4:00 PM – 4:15 PM
Break
4:15 PM – 4:30 PM
What’s Next: Recap of Day 1 and Looking to Day 2
4:30 PM – 5:00 PM
Informal Open House
Day 2 – April 11, 2024
8:30 AM – 9:30 AM
Breakfast, Informal Open House
Join personnel from Hawaiian Electric, Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization, and Firewise Communities for informal conversations.
9:30 AM – 10:00 AM
10:00 AM – 10:45 AM
Hawaiian Electric’s Wildfire Safety Strategy
Marc Asano, Director, Integrated Grid Planning, Hawaiian Electric
Jonathan Woldmariam, Director, Wildfire Mitigation & Vegetation Mgmt., SDG&E
Scott Strenfel, Senior Director, Meteorology Operations & Fire Science, PG&E
Jack Shearman, CEO, UMS Group
Shawn Holder, Director, Public Safety Power Shutoff, PG&E
10:45 AM – 11:00 AM
Break
11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Planning for Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS)
Erik Takayesu, Former SVP. Asset Strategy and Planning, Southern California Edison
Shawn Holder, Director, Public Safety Power Shutoff, PG&E
Jonathan Woldmariam, Director, Wildfire Mitigation & Vegetation Mgmt., SDG&E
Koko Tomassian Program Manager Safety Management Systems Branch, CPUC
Keith Okamoto, Chief Engineer, Department of Water Supply, County of Hawaii
12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
Lunch & Networking
1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
Collective Action for Wildfire Safety
Breakout Discussions
2:30 PM – 3:30 PM
Collective Action for Wildfire Safety
Debrief
3:30 PM – 4:00 PM
Appreciation and Next Steps
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Informal Open House and Networking
