Hawaiian Electric commemorates 130 years of service on Hawaii Island

by Kristen Okinaka | Dec. 5, 2024

The year was 1890. Light bulbs begin to illuminate the study hall and principal’s cottage of the Hilo Boarding School as the sun set. A small, water-driven dynamo installed on the school’s irrigation ditch is generating enough electricity to power 12 bare light bulbs from dusk to 10 p.m. This is the beginning of what would become Hawaiian Electric.

Where it all began. The Hilo Board School was primarily a vocational school where children of merchants, plantation supervisors and others who lived in remote areas of the island were given their basic education. Here, they learned to speak English and were also trained in basic computation as well as the trades of blacksmithy, horse shoeing, auto mechanics and most especially, woodworking. The school’s co-principals, Mr. and Mrs. W.S. Terry, may have been inspired by electricity’s promise during a stay at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel in Honolulu. In 1890, the school installed its own on-site electric plant. Lyman Memorial Museum

On Dec. 5, 1894, Hilo Electric Light Company was formed under a franchise granted by the Legislature of the Republic of Hawaii. The company was allowed to provide electricity as well as construct, maintain and operate a tramway on the streets and roads, make and sell ice, and pulp and mill coffee.

Employees of Hilo Electric gathered in front of the company office. Clearly Aloha attire in the 1920s was not in vogue since most of the men in the picture are wearing ties to work. Appliances were sold from these premises though in the beginning these were limited to lamps. HELCO Archives

We started modestly with a small ice plant and a 500-light dynamo. The hydro unit used water leased from the boarding school’s irrigation ditch to produce ice and power. At the time, 100 percent of the electricity was generated from a renewable resource. Our Puueo Hydro Plant, built in 1901, continues to generate electricity today.

In 1901, the Puueo Plant was constructed on the Wailuku River, and used a Pelton water wheel connected to a generator to generate power. HELCO Archives

As the demand for electricity grew, so did we. By 1956, Hilo Electric Light purchased or merged with smaller electric companies that served sugar and coffee plantations around the island. By 1963, the company received the franchise to provide electricity for the entire island. In the seventies, Hilo Electric Light was bought by Hawaiian Electric, and the name was changed to Hawaii Electric Light Company (HELCO).

Company transportation: In the days before the automobile came to the Big Island, troubleshooters rode company horses from household to household. Pictured in the 1902 photograph is the first light and ice plant on Kinoole Street. HELCO Archives

Street lighting in Hilo was owned by the county but maintained, repaired and powered by Hilo Electric. On September 1, 1931, the street lighting system was sold to Hilo Electric for $1 with the understanding that all future extensions and operations would be assumed by the company. Rev. Jerome Baker Bishop Museum

Today, we’re known as Hawaiian Electric. About 360 employees — plus hundreds more on O‘ahu and in Maui County — serve about 89,400 Hawai‘i Island homes and businesses.

More than half of our island’s electricity comes from a diverse mix of renewable resources like solar, wind, run-of-river hydro, and geothermal. We’re adding more renewable projects and are on track to meet the statewide goal of 40 percent renewable energy by the end of 2030. It’ll take all of us working together to reach the goal of 100 percent by 2045. That’s why we’re engaging with stakeholders and communities to plan for Hawaii’s energy future using local, renewable resources with various technologies and scales.

Hawaiian Electric also is investing in new technology and upgrading the grid to make it more resilient, improve reliability, and address growing risks from wildfires and other hazards.

We strive to provide exceptional service and help customers save money, become more energy efficient, and protect our island environment. To meet your energy needs, you can choose from a variety of programs and services that are fair and equitable for all customers.

Generations of employees and retirees are at the heart of Hawaiian Electric. They keep the lights on and give back by volunteering their time, offering their expertise, and supporting nonprofit agencies who help our communities flourish.

We’re grateful for the customers, community, and government partners who have shared their insights and ideas and supported efforts to keep communities safe. By working together, we can achieve our common goal to make our island one of the best places to live and raise our families.

As a kamaaina company, Hawaiian Electric is honored to be able to serve you for the past 130 years. Like those before us, we’re committed to building a sustainable Hawaii in which our children and grandchildren, our communities, our customers, and employees will thrive, together.

Kristen Okinaka is a senior communications specialist for Hawaiian Electric on Hawaii Island.