Energy is a public trust resource in Hawaiʻi.
Help us build a movement for an energy system that benefits us present and future generations.
Energy sources are a public trust resource in Hawaiʻi, like water, land, and air. These vital resources belong to everyone and must be protected and managed for the benefit of all, not exploited for corporate profit.
Now is the moment to reclaim our power and create an energy future rooted in justice, democracy, sustainability, and aloha ʻāina—for the benefit of present and future generations.
A vision of energy democracy:
Power for the people by the people ✊🏽— A vision of energy democracy means creating community-led energy systems that prioritize local ownership, the natural environment, and cultural values. It moves away from profit-driven corporate control that has harmed people and ʻāina, instead empowering communities to design and manage their own energy projects while protecting vital public trust resources. This is energy sovereignty—self-determined, resilient, and rooted in Hawaiʻi’s unique place-based knowledge.
Never ending energy burdens
Hawaiʻi’s energy system was never built to serve its people—it was built to serve corporate interests. Today, we’re living with the consequences: some of the highest electricity bills in the nation, continued dependence on imported oil, and a system that prioritizes profit over people. As we transition to 100% renewable energy—a future that will rely on natural resources held in the public trust—we must demand a system that delivers affordable, reliable power for all.
In Hawaiʻi, energy burden—the percentage of a household's income that is spent on energy bills—is alarmingly high at 70% and worsening. A new report from the Hawaiʻi Public Utilities Commission estimates that 6,000 households had their power disconnected in 2023 due to missed payments—double the number of disconnections in 2019. This sharp increase highlights the growing number of residents struggling to keep their electricity on.
Nearly a decade has passed since Hawaiʻi committed to achieving 100% renewable energy by 2045. While neighbor islands are making stronger progress, Oʻahu continues to fall behind. On an average day, approximately 65% of Oʻahu’s electricity still comes from imported oil—driving up costs and increasing economic vulnerability. Meanwhile, Hawaiian Electric’s slow progress in expanding renewable energy production and battery storage leaves residents burdened by an outdated and costly energy system.
Energy is a basic need, and access to it should not depend on wealth or privilege. It’s time for a new system—one that treats energy as a public good, not a commodity. Our transition to renewable energy must be a transition of power: from corporate control to community-driven solutions that put people and ʻāina first.
Harness and Respecting Nature
Clean, renewable energy has the power to lower electricity costs, reduce carbon emissions, and strengthen our communities—but only if we do it right. Right now, large-scale energy projects, often covering 200 acres or more, dominate the conversation. But a truly just transition requires a mix of solutions—like microgrids, decentralized power production, and residential rooftop solar—that honor Hawaiʻi’s people and the natural resources and ʻāina it depends on, while providing reliable and accessible electricity.
☀️ Renewables can save us, but no greenwashing.
Clean, renewable energy has the power to lower electricity costs and create a healthier, more sustainable environment—but only if we do it right. Right now, the centralized system is persistent in pursuing large-scale (200 acre+) projects, overlooking the full potential of an innovative diversified energy system. To truly achieve 100% renewable and affordable energy, we need to embrace solutions like microgrids, regionalized power production, and residential rooftop solar. But let’s face it—not everyone has access to a roof. So how do we ensure everyone benefits from this brighter energy future? The answer lies in creating inclusive, community-driven solutions that leave no one behind.
Hawaiʻi’s high cost of living and stagnant wages have forced nearly half of our residents into rental housing, leaving the majority without control over their energy choices or access to savings measures like solar water heaters and energy-efficient appliances. But there are real, actionable solutions to bring affordable renewable energy to tenants, they can even be part owners if it is owned by their local cooperative like on Molokaiʻi. Yet Hawaiʻi’s monopolized utility structure, corporate developer dominance, and top down processes stifle progress and keep communities locked out of the clean energy future they deserve. It’s time to break these barriers and demand solutions that work for everyone.
Energy should never come at the expense of our health—neither public nor environmental. It’s time to shut down dirty energy and shift away from dirty “renewable energy,” like HPOWER and biomass, and break free from our dependence on imported oil. But the transition to clean energy must be more than just a shift in power sources; it must be a shift in power itself.
We need to work hand-in-hand with communities to develop renewable energy projects that reflect their needs, values, and vision for the future. By prioritizing microgrids and small-scale, community-led solutions over sprawling wind farms or solar farms, we can create an energy system that uplifts both people and ʻāina, ensuring a just and sustainable future for all.
People-Powered Energy Solutions
In 2018, Hawaiʻi passed the Hawaiʻi Ratepayer Protection Act into law which establishes performance-based incentives for the electric utility to provide cheaper, renewable energy to its customers. As a for-profit corporation, Hawaiian Electric is beholden to its shareholders, which has contributed to the extremely high rates that residents pay since historically the utility has been able to pass down costs to ratepayers. This Ratepayer Protection Act was a step towards holding the utility accountable for providing affordable, clean energy to our community but we’ve yet to see real bill relief.
A new report issued by the Public Utilities Commission estimates that 6,000 households had their power cut in 2023 due to missed payments, which is about double the number of disconnections that occurred in 2019, the amount of residents whose electricity was shutoff doubled since 2019.
Since energy is a public trust resource, it is imperative that we take real strides that move our energy system away from the private investor-owned utility model and towards a democratic, transparent, and publicly accountable utility. There are alternatives to the status quo. Reports show that public utilities that are public and/or community-owned and not-for-profit provide reliable, affordable electricity that is safe for our neighbors and environment. Public utilities are part of the community and employ the community—diversifying our workforce and providing stable jobs closer to home. In addition, local communities could have a greater say in implementing innovative small scale community solar provide the opportunity to those that do not have access to roofs—like renters or apartment dwellers—to have access to affordable clean energy.
There is a saying amongst local community advocates: “Go slow to go fast” which is meant to emphasize being intentional in our cultivation of relationships with each other. When we bake dialogue and time into the early stages of planning with those who are going to be directly affected by a potential decision, decision-making actually goes faster.
We need a mechanism like our Board of Water Supply which is simply in the business of providing an essential service and managing the vitality of that source for present and future generations. This is all completely possible and necessary if we are ever to have a truly just and equitable energy system.
🚨 Examples of Energy Injustice
West Kauaʻi AES Pumped Hydro
For over a century, stream diversions in West Kauaʻi deprived communities and ecosystems of their natural waiwai. Now, as local farmers revive traditional practices to heal the ʻāina, KIUC’s proposed hydropower plant threatens this progress by diverting millions of gallons daily from the Waimea River without return—and plans to dump excess water into the ocean, repeating harmful plantation-era practices that damage both river and reef.
Kahuku Wind Turbines
The leadership of the Kahuku kiaʻi sent a jolt in the energy system as a reminder that forcing small rural communities to bear the expense of the transition to renewable energy is not only unfair, it is also doomed to fail.
HPOWER “Waste to Energy”
Hawaiian Electric contracts the City and County of Honolulu to burn trash for power through its waste-to-energy facility, H-Power—an approach that may reduce landfill volume but emits harmful pollutants and undermines recycling and sustainable waste practices. Worse, if Honolulu doesn’t produce enough trash to meet H-Power’s demands, the city pays a fine—spending $6.2 million between 2013 and 2016 alone.
🎩 Topple the top-down model
Then, we need to move away from the monopoly towards a public power utility, which would ultimately improve accountability and reduce rates. Public utilities are community-owned, not-for-profit electric utilities that provide reliable, affordable electricity that is safe for our neighbors and environment. Public utilities are part of the community and employ the community—diversifying our workforce and providing stable jobs closer to home. Small scale community solar provide the opportunity to those that do not have access to roofs—like renters or apartment dwellers—to have access to affordable clean energy.
At the very least, we need to decouple our utility and energy infrastructure. We need a mechanism like an independent system operator that oversees the grid, supplying energy loads based on real-time usage would ensure equal access, optimized costs for the ratepayers and fair competition.
In 2018, Hawaiʻi passed the Hawaiʻi Ratepayer Protection Act into law which establishes incentives for the electric utility to provide cheaper, renewable energy to its customers. As a for-profit corporation, Hawaiian Electric is beholden to its shareholders, not its ratepayers which has contributed to the extremely high rates that residents pay. This Ratepayer Protection Act is a step towards holding the utility accountable for providing affordable, clean energy to our community. The act is currently in front of the Public Utilities Commission for implementation and has yet to come into fruition.
The bottom line is that energy sources are a public trust resource in Hawaiʻi, just like our streams, land, water and air—and they should be cared for one and the same. Energy as a basic life necessity should not be controlled by a single corporation. Gone are the days of top-down fossil fuel wholesale energy systems—now is the time to take back our power for a brighter energy future.