We hope you and your ʻohana are staying safe and doing well.
As Hawai‘i aims for 100 percent renewable energy on every island grid by 2045, as required by law, it is crucial for the state’s renewable energy portfolio to be expanded and diversified to meet the ambitious mandates in the law.
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July 27, 2020
As Hawaii builds its renewable energy future, there have been stumbles along the way. But few ventures have fallen as hard as the Hu Honua Bioenergy project, which would generate electricity by burning eucalyptus trees at a repurposed facility in Pepeekeo, Hawaii island.
The power plant was nearly ready to go — 99% complete and $350 million invested, according to the company. But...Read More
June 22, 2020
By Derek Kurisu
Like many on Hawaii island, I have been following the developments related to Hu Honua (also known as Honua Ola) closely and with anticipation.
We were happy when the state Public Utilities Commission (PUC) approved the original power purchase agreement (energy contract) with Hawaiian Electric in 2013 and again the amended energy contract in 2017, allowing...Read More
Hawai‘i Island has always been home to Nui Iopa. He went to Hilo High School and Hawai‘i Community College, where he studied engineering and insulation technology.
Nui is an auxiliary plant operator at Honua Ola. “I’m the eyes, ears, and hands for the control room operator,” he said. Whatever the plant management system says needs to be done Nui handles it manually, adjusting valves, checking...Read More
Chaz Pinnow grew up in a plantation house built by his grandpa in Papaikou on Hawai‘i Island.
Today, Chaz is the senior ash handler at Honua Ola. He oversees the refueling of the plant with eucalyptus chips, which are combusted to produce power. Off-loading the trucks that carry the eucalyptus logs is tricky, but Chaz has it down to an art.
Chaz is proud Honua Ola is the cleanest 24/7...Read More
