Hawaiʻi Gas President and CEO honors the company’s legacy of reliable energy service and sustainable innovation, looking ahead to renewable projects supporting local climate goals.
6
Hawaiʻi Gas Across the State
Discover Hawaiʻi Gas through a spotlight on its locations and the skilled team members who bring energy solutions to communities across the Islands.
8
Letter from the Governor
Governor Josh Green, MD celebrates Hawai‘i Gas’ 120th anniversary, highlighting its role in energy resilience and the exceptional dedication of its employees throughout the decades.
16
Cooking with Gas, Island-Style
Since 1908, Hawai‘i Gas has promoted local culinary culture, featuring notable chefs and cooking demonstrations that showcase Hawaii’s unique culinary traditions and cooking techniques.
20
A Multigenerational Pipeline
Recognizing multigenerational employees, Hawai‘i Gas honors family legacies that strengthen connections to the past and shape the future.
26
SNG Plant Celebrates 50 Years
The Hawai‘i Gas Synthetic Natural Gas plant, the sole facility of its kind in the U.S., marks its 50th anniversary while expanding sustainable energy options for Oahu.
30
Community Spirit
Through philanthropic support and volunteer initiatives, community engagement is fostered at Hawai‘i Gas, empowering employees to make a collective impact.
32
A Renewable Energy Future
Dedicated to supporting Hawaii’s clean energy goals, Hawaiʻi Gas is advancing innovative energy initiatives for the state.
on the cover: Hawai‘i Gas highlights 120 years of impact through photos that reflect its dedicated staff, significant locations and meaningful community contributions throughout its rich history.
A Honolulu Gas Company employee at the Iwilei Plant, 1939.
Celebrating Our Legacy
Hawai‘i gas has the distinction of being one of the oldest companies still operating in the islands today. We’re honored to mark 120 years of service to the people and businesses of Hawaii, and to commemorate the generations of our dedicated, skilled workforce — the driving force behind the company’s achievements and longevity.
Since its 1904 founding, when the company was known as the Honolulu Gas Company, our predecessors worked hard to deliver reliable, affordable energy solutions to households and businesses across Hawaii. Their commitment to the people we serve, pursuit of innovation, and kuleana as stewards of our island home have shaped the company into what it is today. It’s an honor and a privilege for me to continue leading Hawai‘i Gas into the next 120 years, as we chart a course focused on sustainability and energy resiliency for our communities.
Looking to the future, our team is focused on innovation and investing in renewable fuel sources to expand locally sourced energy options, further decarbonizing our fuel supply and supporting the state’s climate goals. In the years to come, our journey toward increasing production of renewable, locally made energy continues: we are in the planning stages of both a renewable green hydrogen project and a new Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) project on Oahu.
Those who were part of the company 120 years ago would be proud to hear that our mission hasn’t changed. We continue to carry on their legacy of innovation while delivering safe, reliable, affordable energy to the people of Hawaii. And if our company’s history reveals anything about what is to come, we know the Hawai‘i Gas of tomorrow will be focused on adapting to change, supporting our community, and working hard toward our sustainability goals — time-tested guiding principles that will shape our success for generations to come.
With Aloha,
Alicia Moy, President and CEO, Hawai‘i Gas
PHOTOS: COURTESY OF HAWAI‘I GAS
Hawai‘i Gas Across the State
Kauai Office
Nawiliwili
Propane Storage
Waihonu Solar Farm
Barbers Point Propane Storage
Kuhela Propane Distribution Facility
Synthetic Natural Gas Plant
Renewable Natural Gas at Honouliuli Wastewater Treatment Plant
Pier 38 Propane-Air Backup
Corporate Headquarters
Kamakee Office
OAHU
KAUAI
Kuhela Propane Distribution Facility
Kamakee Office
Synthetic Natural Gas Plant
Kauai Office
Lanai Office
Molokai Office
Maui Office
Kahului Propane Storage
Waimea Propane Storage
Kona Office
Kona Propane Storage
HAWAII ISLAND
Hilo Office
Hilo Propane Storage
Kau Propane Storage
MAUI
MOLOKAI
LANAI
Hilo Office
Maui Office
Kona Office
I A Special Message from Governor Josh Green, MD
t is my honor to extend a warm congratulations to hawai‘i gas on the occasion of its 120th anniversary. For over a century, Hawai‘i Gas has supported the people and businesses of Hawaii with dependable energy, helping to power our way of life and foster economic resilience.
Since its founding in 1904, Hawai‘i Gas has consistently demonstrated leadership in advancing Hawaii’s clean energy goals, making pioneering investments in renewable energy, including green hydrogen and renewable natural gas. Through the decades, Hawai‘i Gas has led the nation in the inclusion of hydrogen in its utility fuel mix, an accomplishment that stands as a testament to the company’s dedication to environmental sustainability and carbon reduction.
Moreover, Hawai‘i Gas employees embody the values of excellence, integrity, and service to community, as shown not only in their everyday operations but also in their invaluable role during times of crisis. Their readiness and commitment to disaster response and recovery efforts have been crucial in ensuring our island communities remain resilient.
Congratulations once again to Hawai‘i Gas, its CEO Alicia Moy, and all of the dedicated employees who have contributed to 120 years of service and success. As Hawai‘i Gas looks forward to the future, may its commitment to sustainability, innovation, and the spirit of aloha continue to thrive for generations to come.
Josh Green, MD and Governor, State of Hawaii
Historical Timeline: 120 Years of Good Energy
Defined by innovation for more than a century.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF HAWAI‘I GAS
Company founder, William W. Dimond.
The Iwilei Plant opens on Oahu, supplying gas to 250 customers and lighting Honolulu Harbor.
1904 1905
The Honolulu Gas Company, Ltd. is founded by William W. Dimond, a kamaaina businessman, after approval from the U.S. Congress.
1910
The first Honolulu Gas Company o ce and appliance showroom opens in downtown Honolulu.
1917
Hilo o ce opens.
Employees during construction of the Iwilei Plant, 1905.
Butane tanks in Hilo, 1960s.
First Honolulu Gas Company office at the Alexander & Young Hotel, 1910.
Gas service expands beyond the pipeline with bottled gas sold to residential and commercial customers.
laboratory begins operating with equipment to improve waste systems and remove tar from gas. 1927
Kauai and Kona o ces open.
The Iwilei Plant
The Iwilei Plant lampblack separators, 1924.
Kauai Office, circa 1960.
Alfred Paiva at the Iwilei Plant, 1954.
1960
Maui o ce opens. U.S. Patent awarded for wind-resistant gas-fired luau torch.
Muriel Miura joins the company as the Director of Home Economics, connecting generations of people through food and culture.
1974
1962
The Synthetic Natural Gas Plant is built to serve greater Honolulu with a blend that includes up to 15% hydrogen.
1997
Citizens Utilities Company acquires the company and changes the name to The Gas Company.
Employees with statehood tiki torch on Tantalus, 1959.
Rendering of the Synthetic Natural Gas Plant, 1973.
Charles Herman delivery, 1954.
2009
Hawaiʻi Gas begins looking for ways to diversify supply sources.
A few years later, a pilot Renewable Natural Gas Plant is established at the SNG Plant. The project was the company’s first attempt at developing a renewable product.
Waihonu Solar Farm opens, an a liate of the company, expanding the clean energy portfolio. The solar farm can power roughly 1,000 homes.
2018
2016
Production of Renewable Natural Gas (RNG), begins at the Honouliuli Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Renewable Natural Gas facility at the Honouliuli Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Waihonu Solar Farm.
Hawaiʻi Gas completes its first first submission of ESG GRESB reporting.
2020
2019
Hawaiʻi Gas joins the United Nations Global Compact Network and participates in the Ambition Accelerator.
2024
2022
Hawaiʻi Gas announces approval of the company’s acquisition by Argo Infrastructure Partners, paving the way to further commitment to our clean energy goals.
Hawaiʻi Gas celebrates 120 years of keeping the state running on good energy, and announces partnerships with Eurus Energy America and Bana Pacific for hydrogen and Renewable Natural Gas projects.
The SNG Plant at Campbell Industrial Park.
Making Energy Education Fun
Gas company mascots were familiar faces in the community.
Gasbird
Standing 11.5 feet tall and covered in 15,400 turquoise, pink, and orange feathers, The Gas Company’s Gasbird mascot was a local celebrity in the 1970s, delighting children and adults alike with appearances on television, in schools, and at dozens of community events every year. As Gasbird said, “Only turkeys waste energy!”
PHOTOS: COURTESY OF HAWAI‘I GAS
The Energy Keiki
Kawika and Malia were puppets who made learning about energy lots of fun. The Energy Keiki starred in TV commercials and energy education videos designed for elementary through high school students in the 1980s. Malia and Kawika joined the Kuhela team to celebrate the company’s 120th anniversary (bottom).
Cooking with Gas, Island-Style
Notable personalities fired up easy, accessible takes on local culinary culture.
Enthusiasm for gas in hawaii households was fueled by the development of local culinary traditions. In 1908, Hawai‘i Gas — then known as the Honolulu Gas Company — hired Miss Suzanne Tracy, a well-known culinary expert at the time, as its first cooking demonstrator to host weekly classes in the original Hawaiian Hotel in downtown Honolulu. Miss Tracy’s cooking school quickly became popular as she guided home cooks through recipes for breaded lamb chops, chicken croquettes, Boston baked beans and more.
The company formally established a home economics department in 1936, with employees instructing homemakers and students on the proper use of gas appliances. The staff also hosted home economics classes at local schools and organized cooking classes for customers at home in their very own kitchens.
As business began to accelerate post-statehood in the 1960s and Hawaii’s tourism industry boomed, the home economics department played a critical role in the increasing demand for gas. Notable employees over the years included Home Economics Director Muriel Miura, who became a familiar name through her hands-on demonstrations, countless cookbooks, and cooking shows broadcast on television. Miura played a major role in shaping and celebrating Hawaii’s culinary traditions.
Miura was born in Honolulu in 1935. She graduated from the University of Hawai‘i with a degree in home economics and worked briefly as a high school teacher. She joined the gas company in 1961 and quickly ascended to a valued role as director of the home economics department. What set her apart was her dedication to teaching and her focus on the local culinary traditions of Hawaii — Miura made it her practice to collect recipes directly from
Hawaii’s grandmothers, mothers and aunties. She translated their methods for preparing favorite local dishes into standardized recipes.
After testing and retesting each recipe, Miura shared them through the Honolulu Gas Company’s hugely popular lunchtime “Wiki Wiki Kau Kau” classes. These cooking demonstrations were held at the Sky Lanai at the company’s former King Street headquarters. Miura also developed recipe pamphlets and booklets, including the Blue Flame Notebooks recipe pamphlets, which are now sought-after collector’s items.
below: Home Economics Director, Muriel Miura, at a viewing party for the American Gas Association film, Action 150. (1966).
opposite page: Napua Stevens, Hari Kojima
Napua Stevens also became a household name. Hailing from Hawaii Island, Stevens was a dancer, singer, author, culinary talent and cultural force. In the 1960s, she hosted Hawaii’s top cooking show, “Napua’s Kitchen” on KGMB, sponsored by the gas company. Like Miura, Stevens was a trailblazer — as one of the few women on local TV at the time, Stevens’ show helped pave the way for other cooking shows hosted by Hawaii’s culinary talent. Hawai‘i Gas continues to sponsor a cooking show called “Good Energy Kitchen” on the same channel today.
In the 1970s, 80s and 90s, Hari Kojima was one of the most popular TV personalities in Hawaii. The host of “Let’s Go Fishing” and “Hari’s Kitchen” gained fans with his signature down-to-earth, welcoming style. Hari’s Kitchen ran for almost two decades, teaching viewers how to catch, prepare and cook fresh fish in a uniquely local way. Guiding viewers through recipes like ahi tataki and “chop chop” papio, Kojima designed dishes for real life.
An introductory letter in the book “Hari Kojima’s Local-Style Favorites,” published in 1987, promised easy, quick and economical dishes like 20-minute beef stew, and “hamburger quickie,” intended to give harried home cooks “some breathing room.” The gas company was a proud supporter of Kojima’s cooking shows and cookbooks over the course of his career.
CHOCOLATE SOUFFL É
Adapted from “Your Blue Flame Notebook of Chocolate Desserts”
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons butter
3 egg yolks
2 tablespoons flour
1 teaspoon vanilla
¾ cup milk
3 egg whites
2 tablespoons cocoa
⅛ teaspoon salt
1½ tablespoons sugar
¼ cup sugar
Instructions:
Melt butter and add flour. Add milk gradually and cook, stirring constantly, until thickened on gas thermostatically controlled top burner set at 200º-225ºF. Stir in cocoa and sugar.
Beat 2-3 tablespoons hot mixture into egg yolks, beat egg yolk mixture into hot milk mixture. Turn flame o . Add vanilla.
Beat egg whites with salt until foamy. Add sugar gradually until sti peaks form. Fold in chocolate sauce gradually.
Butter bottom of 1-quart sou é dish and sprinkle with sugar. Fit a foil collar around dish extending 1-inch above rim. Pour in batter. Place in pan of hot water, 1-inch deep. Bake. Temperature: 400ºF. Time: 30 minutes. Remove collar and serve immediately. Yield: 5-6 servings.
top: New Employee Cooking Classes, 1950s.
above: New Employee Cooking Classes, 1956.
right: A cooking demonstration with the sales team, 1954.
PHOTOS: COURTESY OF HAWAI‘I GAS
above: Home Economics department circa 1960s.
top right: Honolulu Gas Company showroom exterior at 1060 Bishop Street, 1954.
right: A window display in the Hilo office windows, 1950s.
A Multigenerational Pipeline
Hawai‘i gas is fueled by legacy. Many current employees are part of multigenerational stories, following in the footsteps of family members who helped shape the company into what it is today. Across roles and decades, they honor these ties while continuing the Hawai‘i Gas commitment to community and innovation. Explore a few of these enduring family bonds in celebration of Hawai‘i Gas’ 120th anniversary.
CURRENT EMPLOYEE:
Rebekkah Quinlan, Radio Clerk
LEGACY EMPLOYEES:
Harry Kuhia Sr. and Harry Kuhia Jr.
Quinlan has been with Hawai‘i Gas for almost 18 years. She’s held several positions along the way: in the call center, the billing department, and as cashier. Three years ago, she took on the role of Radio Clerk at the Kamakee location. “This is the best position for me,” said Quinlan. “It feels like home.”
As a child, Quinlan knew that her grandfather was the president of the Teamsters union before he eventually moved to the mainland, but wasn’t fully aware of her family’s long history with Hawai‘i Gas. During new employee orientation on her first day with the company, she noticed the last name Kuhia on a photo taken at the
Strong family connections bridge employees, past and present.
PHOTOS: COURTESY OF HAWAI‘I GAS
Kamakee location in 1933. The photo depicted a lineup of vintage Honolulu Gas Company delivery vehicles and drivers — one of them happened to be her grandfather.
“I asked my dad about it then, but I didn’t know all the connections my family had to the company until we started doing research for Hawai‘i Gas’ 120th anniversary,” said Quinlan. She later discovered that her greatgrandfather, Harry Kuhia Sr., had been at the Kewalo Warehouse (the former name for the Kamakee location) working in distribution; her grandfather, Harry Kuhia Jr., held a similar position. “An older cousin of mine is now doing a family genealogy project, so it’s been nice to include their photos and more about their history,” said Quinlan.
left: A photo of the Kewalo Warehouse & Garage grand opening includes Rebekkah’s great-grandfather, Harry Kuhia, Sr., 1933.
opposite page bottom: Rebekkah Quinlan and the signed 1933 photo of her great-grandfather.
below: Harry Kuhia Jr. (third from left) at thermostat training at the Kewalo Warehouse, 1954.
CURRENT EMPLOYEE:
Rachel Kaya, Marketing & Customer Insights
LEGACY EMPLOYEE:
Glenn Kaya
When Rachel first began working at Hawai‘i Gas in 2023, she knew that her grandfather, Glenn Kaya, had worked for the company’s sales department long ago, but had few other details. After Rachel joined the marketing team, Glenn would often ask her about the “Kakaako location” and how she liked working there. He passed
away at the age of 96, just as Rachel marked a few months into her new job.
Later, Rachel was with colleagues at Hamilton Library on the University of Hawai‘i campus in Manoa, researching the gas company’s history. While looking through archived photos and articles, one of her fellow team members happened upon a black-and-white photo of Glenn on the sales team in 1954 — totally by chance. In the photo, Glenn stood in the company’s former showroom at 1050 Bishop Street in downtown Honolulu, flanked by two coworkers.
“I was really close to my grandpa,” said Rachel. “Having this tangible connection to both him and the company has been extremely meaningful, particularly after his passing.”
“I’m so proud to carry on my grandfather’s legacy, and when he passes, I’m going to put his name on my Nomex coverall. This place has a lot of meaning for me. It’s provided for me and my family for multiple generations.”
— PETE BANGLOS, INSPECTOR FOREMAN
CURRENT EMPLOYEE:
Pete Banglos, Inspector Foreman
LEGACY/CURRENT EMPLOYEES AND FAMILY MEMBERS:
Pedro “Pete” Banglos, Robert Banglos, Melissa Banglos, Geri Kishinami
Although Pete Banglos began his career at Hawai‘i Gas as a laborer, he always knew that he wanted to be an inspector one day. Anytime there was an inspector position open at the company — even when Pete knew he wasn’t yet qualified — he would apply. Now marking his 33rd year with the company, “I was fortunate to be both a foreman and inspector at a young age,” said Pete.
Pete’s grandfather, Pedro “Pete” Banglos, also worked at the company as a tank truck driver. His grandmother would watch Pete and the other children during the workday. A daily highlight was when Pedro “would arrive back at home for lunch, driving his truck,” recalled Pete. “He would always honk the air horn before he left.”
opposite page: Gordon Poire, Glenn Kaya, and Hideshi Fuchino in the Honolulu Gas Company Bishop Street showroom, 1954.
When Pedro was close to retirement, he emphasized that he wanted someone else from the family in the company. Pete joined the Hawai‘i Gas ohana, determined to build a good reputation at work so he could eventually refer other family members. His brother, Robert Banglos (Meter Reader), joined the company, followed by his wife’s cousin, Zach Wakilina (Distribution Supervisor) in 2012, and then his wife, Melissa Banglos (Customer Relations Representative) in 2018. Pete’s aunt, Geri Kishinami, also worked at the gas company as former secretary to a general manager.
“Every time I see my grandpa, he asks, ‘How’s the family? How’s the gas company?’ because those are two of the most important things to him,” said Pete. “What now gives me satisfaction is that Zach, my brother and my wife are all working here. I’m so proud to carry on my grandfather’s legacy, and when he passes, I’m going to put his name on my Nomex coverall. This place has a lot of meaning for me. It’s provided for me and my family for multiple generations.”
above: Pedro ‘Pete’ Banglos, Tank Truck Driver, 1951.
right: The Banglos Family: Chase, Robert, Pete, Pedro, and Melissa.
CURRENT EMPLOYEES:
Sharon Shigemoto and T-Jay Shigemoto, Senior Account Executives
Sharon Shigemoto, one of the longesttenured employees working at Hawai‘i Gas, is approaching 45 years with the company. Based on Oahu, she’s worked in a variety of roles, from her very first position on the team that designed the hydrocracker at Campbell Industrial Park (now part of Par Hawaii’s refinery), to her role in the statewide expansion of Gas Express service stations. Sharon ultimately has found her home on the sales team. “It’s the best position because I just really enjoy working with our customers,” she said.
On Kauai, Sharon’s nephew T-Jay Shigemoto officially joined the sales team office five years ago. His first introduction to Hawai‘i Gas was as a Boy Scout on Kaua‘i, when his troop washed trucks on Sundays for former general manager Glen Takenouchi.
“When I first started, it comforted me that Aunty Sharon was just a phone call away,” said T-Jay. “The people who trained me — Wayne Daimaru (retired Account Executive) and Neal Kadooka (Business Development Specialist) — have years and years of experience. It’s come full circle, and I have a lot to learn, but now I’m training some of the newer account executives, too.”
Sharon and T-Jay said they have learned from each other throughout the years. “I was so happy to have someone from the family working with me,” said Sharon. “I told him, ‘I want you to learn and get to know all my customers!’ But I learn from T-Jay too — he understands all our new systems.”
T-Jay shared that it’s an honor to work with Sharon. “We hold the same position and both [of us] work with commercial customers,” he said. “It makes me proud. I have big shoes to fill!”
above: Sharon Shigemoto with a Gas Express model, 1980.
right: T-Jay Shigemoto at a customer site.
CURRENT EMPLOYEE:
Vincent Loo, Technical Director at the SNG Plant
LEGACY EMPLOYEE: Richard Loo
Vincent Loo began his career at Hawai‘i Gas in 1988. At 23 years old, he was fresh out of college and in search of a job; his father, Richard Loo, had just retired after a long career with the gas company.
Vincent applied for a position and accepted a role as a Staff Engineer. While their time at the company didn’t officially overlap, Vincent had grown up knowing Richard’s colleagues and fit right in. There are parallels between their careers: Vincent’s engineering expertise has lent itself to positions throughout the company — over the years, he’s worked on the metering systems and distribution systems at Kamakee, and held the positions of Maintenance Engineer, Operations Engineer, and SNG Plant Manager. Richard was the Plant Manager at the company’s original Iwilei Plant for many years.
“My father was promoted to Manager of Engineering, and then VP of Engineering, before he retired,” said Vincent. “He had a lot of input on the design of the SNG Plant, where I work today, and I often see his name around the plant on books and folders.”
Richard Loo graduated from the University of Hawai‘i with a degree in chemistry. He began work at the gas company and held the position of Technical Assistant early on in his career, and worked his way up to Iwilei Plant Manager. When he got married and started a family, he often brought Vincent and his brothers along to work.
“When I was a kid, I remember my father building an automation system for the gas-making process at the plant, with moving components like motors, cams and automatic arms on timers that turned valves,” said Vincent. “He was involved with early computer programming. In the early 1970s, he had a rudimentary computer, which he’d let us kids use on special occasions when we visited the office.”
Vincent remembers his father’s rich musical life outside of his work at the gas company, as a professional piano player with frequent gigs in downtown Honolulu. Richard passed away in 2006, but his legacy lives on.
on this page: Richard Loo, Technical Assistant, and Chuck Fong, Plant Statistician, circa 1960s.
SNG Plant Celebrates
50
Years
Marking a milestone in Hawaii.
In 1974, the hawai‘i gas synthetic natural gas (sng) plant began operating on oahu, replacing the company’s original production plant located in the Iwilei industrial area. The SNG Plant occupies three acres in Kapolei’s Campbell Industrial Park, producing Synthetic Natural Gas distributed through a 16-inch transmission pipeline that connects the facility to the city’s utility system. Gas runs from the plant along more than 1,100 miles of pipeline stretching from Kapolei to Hawaii Kai, fueling the day-to-day energy needs of thousands of homes and businesses on Oahu.
PHOTOS: COURTESY OF HAWAI‘I GAS
opposite page: 1973 artist rendering of the SNG Plant, and the SNG Plant today.
The SNG Plant is the only one of its kind in the United States. When the virtually pollutionfree plant opened in 1974, it received a Blue Sky Award from the American Lung Association. Since natural gas isn’t found in Hawaii, the SNG plant was designed to produce gas using a special process that upcycles naphtha, a byproduct of the oil refining process.
Synthetic natural gas is an efficient, reliable fuel product — at the Hawai‘i Gas SNG Plant, it’s blended with up to 15% zero-carbon hydrogen and up to 2-3% Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) sourced from the Honouliuli Wastewater Treatment Plant. Hawai‘i Gas uses more hydrogen in this utility fuel mix than any other utility in the nation.
above: Chairman James F. Gary and Rev. James Merseberg formally dedicated the new hydrogen plant, 1982.
The Maui LPG Baseyard Storage Facility, developed in collaboration with Hawaii Gas.
“More than anything else, I enjoy the feeling of belonging somewhere, being part of something bigger and sharing the same goals with my team. Having a team that shares both successes and challenges together, that is what I find most rewarding working here.”
— ALANAH YARWORTH, CHEMIST
This year, the SNG Plant celebrates its 50th anniversary. Today, it’s staffed 24/7 by a team of specialized employees who include operating and maintenance crews, engineers, mechanics and chemists who maintain quality control at the onsite laboratory. Safety is a top priority at Hawai‘i Gas, and significant effort and resources are dedicated to ensure that all operations are safe for employees, customers and the community.
For five decades, the SNG Plant has produced efficient, reliable, resilient energy for Hawaii communities. In the years to come, it will continue to play a pivotal role in how Hawai‘i Gas strengthens and accelerates its work toward a clean energy future.
A CHEMIST AND TRAILBLAZER
On the opening day of the SNG Plant in November 1974, a front-page article in the Honolulu Advertiser profiled an employee analyzing a sample of SNG fuel. That employee was Jo Anne Smith, whose groundbreaking role as the plant’s chemist transcended stereotypes of what was perceived to be a male-dominated industry. Fifty years later, that legacy continues with another female chemist, Alanah Yarworth, in the very same role at Hawaiʻi Gas.
above: Alanah Yarworth, chemist at the SNG Plant today.
left: Jo Anne Smith, first chemist at the SNG Plant, 1974.
DID YOU KNOW?
The SNG Plant produces carbon dioxide gas as a byproduct of the manufacturing process, which is then separated out and sold to other businesses for further processing. It eventually finds its way to Hawaii consumers in a variety of forms, including the fizz in soda. Hawaiʻi Gas is the largest supplier of carbon dioxide in the state.
12 Years of Good Energy Congratulations Hawai‘i Gas
Community Spirit
Outreach and service inspired by positive change and social responsibility.
Hawai‘i gas is proud to carry on a legacy of support for local nonprofit agencies and initiatives that shape a brighter future for Hawaii. Employees are meeting tomorrow’s challenges by working hard to prioritize social responsibility, with the well-being of the environment and community at the forefront.
The Hawai‘i Gas Kokua Giving program was created over 25 years ago to encourage employee involvement in their communities, and to invest in individuals and groups making a positive impact. Three main program areas — corporate giving and sponsorships, community engagement, and an employee matching program — allow Hawai‘i Gas to make a significant impact on multiple levels.
Last year, Hawai‘i Gas donated over $300,000 to a diverse group of more than 50 different nonprofit agencies through its Kokua Giving program. These included funds for the Hawai‘i Community Foundation in support of Maui wildfire recovery, the Hawai‘i Agricultural Foundation, scholarships at community colleges through the University of Hawai‘i Foundation, and Holomua Collective, an organization committed to making Hawaii more affordable for working families. Across Hawai‘i Gas, opportunities for employees to roll up their sleeves and lend a hand are
above: Hawai‘i Gas employees volunteering at Build-a-Bike for the Hawaii Bicycling League bike education program.
left: Hawaii Gas donated soil for the Aina Haina Elementary Raised Garden Bed project, inspiring young minds to learn hands-on about agriculture and sustainability, 2023.
PHOTOS: COURTESY OF HAWAI‘I GAS
plentiful: every year, employees help clean the Waikalua Loko Fishpond, spend the day with young athletes at the Special Olympics Summer Games, and rally a team for the Susan G. Komen More Than Pink Walk in October.
Employees are dedicated to carrying on legacy giving traditions as well, raising funds for Aloha United Way through employee-led fundraising campaigns — an annual tradition since at least 1988.
“Social responsibility initiatives are a critical part of our work at Hawai‘i Gas,” said Julie Yunker, who serves as the company’s Senior Director of Sustainability,
above: Employees team up for the Hawaii Special Olympics Plane Pull, circa 1996.
above, left: Compadres South Seas Pacific Chili Cookoff, circa 1990s.
left: Hawai‘i Gas employees and family at a Waikalua Loko Fishpond community workday.
Government, and Community Relations. “We directly impact the resilience and well-being of our communities by supporting local organizations and initiatives, a priority at the company from the very beginning.”
In 2023, employees committed a total of 520 volunteer hours to environmental, social and cultural initiatives statewide. Hawai‘i Gas also offers a robust employee matching program, doubling the amount of personal donations to eligible nonprofits. “By empowering employees to support causes close to their hearts, we amplify our collective positive impact,” explained Yunker.
Innovation and new technologies o er new options for Hawaiiʻs energy landscape.
W Investing in a Renewable Energy Future
ith a progressive energy policy and increasing access to renewable energy sources, Hawaii is a leader in clean, renewable energy development. As the effects of climate change increase, Hawai‘i Gas stands with others around the state and the globe to address it head-on.
“We are firm in our commitment to a sustainable, energy-resilient Hawaii,” said Alicia Moy, President and CEO of Hawai‘i Gas. “Right now, Hawai‘i Gas is one of the lowest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions in the state and we are working hard to continue decarbonizing. While we have led the nation in blending in hydrogen for over 50 years, it’s our kuleana to continue innovating and further reduce our overall carbon footprint.”
Hawai‘i Gas’ synthetic natural gas (SNG), produced on Oahu since 1974, contains up to 15% hydrogen — the highest percentage of any natural gas utility in the United
States. In 2018, the company partnered with the City & County of Honolulu to operate the state’s first Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) facility at the Honouliuli Wastewater Treatment Plant, aimed at using waste as a renewable source of gas and increasing decarbonization.
The company’s journey toward increasing production of renewable energy continues. In early 2024, Hawai‘i Gas announced two more renewable energy projects on the horizon: a renewable green hydrogen project made using solar power and recycled water, and a RNG project using non-invasive bana grass as a locally sourced energy crop.
These projects mark significant and exciting forwardmovement on the path toward decarbonization. Each will increase Hawai‘i Gas’ investment in renewable energy, diversify our fuel supply with local resources, and demonstrate projects that can scale and support the state’s clean energy goals.
FUELING THE FUTURE
Hydrogen
Hydrogen — a clean, zero-emissions fuel — has potential to be the clean energy source of the future. Since 1974, Hawai‘i Gas has safely used up to 15% hydrogen in its utility fuel mix, distributed to residential and commercial customers through our underground pipeline network on Oahu.
Hawai‘i Gas is an active participant in international hydrogen research initiatives, having led the country in its use of utility hydrogen for 50 years.
Renewable Natural Gas
RNG is created using biogas generated by organic matter as it decomposes. RNG is an ultra-clean fuel and can be considered carbon-negative depending on the source because it potentially converts more greenhouse gases than it emits.
At the City and County of Honolulu’s Honouliuli Wastewater Treatment Plant, Hawai‘i Gas takes the gases that are byproducts of wastewater treatment and turns them into RNG. This clean-burning fuel is then added into Oahu’s utility fuel mix.
SUSTAINABILITY REPORT
Hawaiʻi Gas has always been defined by innovation: the company’s predecessors pioneered the use of new technologies to deliver clean, reliable energy to homes and businesses in Hawaii. Decades later, climate change is upon us — the challenge
of our lifetimes. At Hawaiʻi Gas, employees are ready to meet that challenge headon, joining many others charting a course focused on sustainability and resiliency for the Islands.
Each year, Hawai‘i Gas tracks its progress through its Annual Sustainability Report, which highlights important strides made in environmental, social and governance (ESG) areas. This report also shows investments in clean energy opportunities and other key initiatives aimed at demonstrating transparency and accountability to stakeholders and the community.
The data in the report is guided by the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards, ensuring it is both comprehensive and consistent. Hawai‘i Gas also aligns its
e orts with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals as part of its commitment to the U.N. Global Compact.
Read the most recent Sustainability Report by scanning the QR code with your mobile device or visit hawaiigas.com/ sustainability.
