Hawaiian Electric on LinkedIn: #renewableenergy #energy #climatechange (2024)

Waianae moku is a mountainous terrain located on the leeward and west side of Oahu with constrained access. Strong winds, warm weather, recurrent drought, and widespread establishment of highly ignitable invasive grasses combined with a history of human-caused ignitions put the entire Waianae moku and its communities at high risk for #wildfires. After last year, many organizations have all been very active to help to convene conversations regarding efforts to lessen wildfire risk in the Waianae, Nanakuli, and Honouliuli moku, and beyond.We contacted Malama Learning Center and Kaala Farms initially to help implement #wildfiremitigation actions in the Waianae moku. We also reached out to the Nanakuli-Maili Neighborhood Board. The first project proposed is a Wildfire Mitigation Demonstration Project at Leihoku Elementary School in Lualualei valley. The school is located in a neighborhood that borders a dry mountain terrain, pervaded by fire prone grass and shrubs. Wildfires have come dangerously close to this school before according to faculty who have taught at this school.Back in May, we funded an initial contract with a local company to clear approximately 1,000 linear feet by 40 feet wide of dry grass and bushes. The contracted company will return to do another round of land clearing. Then, we will begin a multi-prong campaign to engage the school and community, which we will suggest future projects such as creating “green” firebreaks and sheep paddocks for “mob grazing” to keep grass load down. We envision school participation on an ongoing basis, using the green firebreak and sheep paddocks as outdoor classrooms.

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We can always count on our employees for stepping up and giving back! Mahalo to this group of amazing employees for volunteering at The Institute for Human Services, Inc. and helping to serve dinner at the shelter on May 29, 2024.

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The Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization has launched “Wildfire and Drought LOOKOUT!” The annual statewide #wildfire awareness and preparedness campaign provides critical tips on ways you can prevent and prepare for wildfires. This season is no exception as we move into the drier months of summer. Here are some ways you can do your part in preventing wildfires:• Clear vegetation 10 feet around campfires and BBQs, keep a shovel and water nearby, and put them out COLD before walking away• Be sure machinery (chainsaws, weed trimmers) and recreational vehicles have operating spark arrestors and are maintained regularly• Heat from vehicle exhaust systems can ignite dry grass - only drive or idle cars on areas that are paved or where vegetation is trimmed and cleared• Fireworks are a common cause of brushfires in dry, grassy areas – attend and enjoy public fireworks displays to maximize safety and fire protectionVisit hwmo.org/lookout for more wildfire preparedness resources.

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Happy King Kamehameha Day! Today, we honor and commemorate King Kamehameha I with vibrant celebrations and cultural events across the Hawaiian Islands. For a list of events that you can attend this week, you can visit https://lnkd.in/gV7m9_uM.In observance of King Kamehameha Day, our offices will be closed today. We will resume normal operations tomorrow.

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Raising funds and awareness for fighting heart disease is always a great reason to walk in the park. Robert Yang, from our digital communications team, reflects on his experience at last year's American Heart Association annual Heart Walk in our latest blog post.“Waking up early isn’t easy for some people, including myself. But on Saturday, August 5, 2023, Kapiolani Regional Park was already filling up at sunrise with volunteers preparing for the American Heart Association’s annual Heart Walk. I vividly remember an ocean of colors flooding the park thanks to different organizations coordinating and adorning T-shirts in various shades of red, blue, and green to represent each of their companies,” share Robert.“The Hawaiian Electric tent was easily spotted thanks to our bright, lime-green company volunteer shirts. Even without knowing the exact count, it was easy to see that there were close to a hundred employees and their families at the event. And these were the early birds--the actual event didn’t start until an hour later. I learned that there were over 300 attendees representing our company that day.“The program officially started at around 7 a.m. Hawaiian Electric Industries President and CEO Scott Seu gave a brief speech followed by an electrifying warm-up: The Electric Slide! Scott was joined on stage by our own president and CEO, Shelee Kimura, as well as American Savings Bank President and CEO Ann Teranishi. The three led the fun, upbeat exercise as the large audience followed along.“The one-mile walk lapped around Kapiolani Park, and it was a nice opportunity to talk story and bond. I was able to have a quick chat with some coworkers before running ahead to get more photos. It felt like a casual walking meeting, minus the shop talk.”For those interested, you can support this year’s annual American Heart Association Heart Walk on August 3, 2024. https://lnkd.in/g_NbMsJJ.Read the full blog at https://lnkd.in/g2qkR5Wc.

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We have recently replaced broken CHadeMO connectors at seven of our fast charger locations across Oahu and Maui. These repairs to the broken connectors were completed after receiving a long-awaited shipment of equipment. CHAdeMO is a DC charging standard for electric vehicles and enables seamless communication between the car and the charger. Many customers rely on CHAdeMO for fast charging their vehicles and we appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding as we completed these repairs.The CHAdeMO replacement locations include Haleiwa Town Center, Times Square Shopping Center, Waikiki Library, Maui Electric Kahului Office, Piilani Village, Costco Dillingham, and Kapolei Shopping Center. For the longevity of the electric vehicle charging stations across the islands, here are some tips to remember for proper use of the fast charger connectors: Only use manufacturer-approved adapters.Return the connector to the holster at the end of your session. Never forcefully remove the connector during an active charging session. Utilize onscreen prompts or the network mobile app to end your charging session before attempting to disengage the connector.For updates on the status of our electric vehicle charging station upgrades, visit: https://lnkd.in/gNunveAM

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It’s World Ocean Day! Today, June 8, serves as a reminder of the major role the ocean has in our life. It is a source of food and jobs, cleans the air, and governs the weather. Even the coral reefs play a large role in protecting our coastlines from storms and erosion, absorbing 97% of a wave’s energy which provides a buffer for flooding of coastal communities. However, 50% of our coral reefs are destroyed, and scientists predict that 99% of reefs could disappear by 2030. Additionally, 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic waste are estimated to be in our oceans and the Pacific Garbage Patch is twice the size of Texas. This year’s World Ocean Day theme “Awaken New Depths” was chosen to highlight the urgent need to change our relationship with the ocean before it’s too late. We can all do our part to protect our oceans through using reef safe sunscreen at the beach, properly disposing of trash, recycling, and reducing our carbon emissions.As storm season begins, let’s remember to protect our ocean as our ocean protects us. Also, here are our storm safety tips at https://lnkd.in/g4tA4BBa.

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Visit our booth this Saturday, June 8, 2024, at the Kau Coffee Festival Hoolaulea on Hawaii Island, where we will be sharing information on emergency preparedness and our wildfire safety strategy! The Hoolaulea will be held at the Pahala Community Center from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free! In addition, there are many festivities for you and your ohana to enjoy, from live entertainment to local food, crafts, raffles, and of course – tasting the local coffees presented by the farmers of Kau. We hope to see you there! For more event information, visit kaucoffeefestival.com.Photo credit: Kau Coffee Festival

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Today, June 7, is recognized as World Food Safety Day, to draw attention and inspire action for food insecurity and prevent food-borne illnesses. According to the Hawaii Foodbank, nearly one-third of households in Hawaii experienced food insecurity in 2023, and these rates of hunger continue to increase. World Food Safety Day is a great reminder that it is our kuleana to contribute to eliminating food insecurity in our island communities and work on increasing access to safe and healthy foods. Throughout the weeks between May 20, 2024 and June 5, 2024, our employees participated in a food drive to collect donations for the Maui Food Bank, The Food Basket Hawai'i, and the Hawaii Food Bank. Additionally, our Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) team hosted a “Fighting Hunger” webinar for employees to attend. The webinar was moderated by Colby Taylor, our DEIB program manager, and featured many guest speakers including representatives from the Hawaii Island Food Basket and Hawaii Food Bank. Our employees, Farron Cabral from Maui County, Bryson Toma from Hawaii Island, Tad Araki from Hawaii Island, Ashly D. from Oahu, and Jerry Maniago from Maui also shared why they feel passionate about volunteering with the food bank. Let’s fight hunger together! Learn more about how you can contribute on your island:Maui Food Bank: mauifoodbank.org The Food Basket (Hawaii Island): hawaiifoodbasket.orgHawaii Food Bank (Oahu/Kauai): hawaiifoodbank.org

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