Save the Date: Discussions on Energy Sovereignty and Community Owned Energy

By Lauren Ballesteros-Watanabe | Reading time: 1 minute

At the end of June, the annual Hawaiʻi Energy Conference will be held virtually. There will be a handful of panels moderated by our allies that we are looking forward to watching. But we couldn't help but notice that there was something missing from the conference—community voices focused around locally produced power.

For decades, communities have been left out of the conversations and decision making around energy projects that are sited in their area. Now, amidst Hawaiʻi's quick transition to clean, renewable energy, is the perfect opportunity to right this injustice and bring community voices to the forefront of power production decisions.

As a compliment to the Hawaiʻi Energy Conference, we will be supporting two grassroots panels on topics that were left out of the conference. Save the date for June 22 and 23 to join us on Facebook Live to witness these powerful and intriguing conversations:

Tuesday, June 22, 5pm: Energy Sovereignty

Learn about Hawaiian and indigenous perspective of energy resources and what it means to adopt an akua set of principles for energy. Speakers will include Dr. Pualani Kanahele, scholar, activist, and kumu; Ikaika Hussey, Tēvita Kaʻili on a panel moderated by Todd Yamashita.

Wednesday, June 23, 5pm: Community Owned Energy

Turning energy democracy into a reality and making locally sourced, community driven the future we'd like to see in our energy transition. The speakers will be the founders and partners of Hoʻāhu Energy Cooperative Molokaʻi that have adopted a new approach to human centered design rooted in the collaboration and consent of community members. Moderated by Ikaika Hussey.

Q&A to follow each panel via Facebook Live chat.