A popular workforce training opportunity designed to prepare Maui residents for potential careers in the energy sector is being expanded to another island. For the first time, the University of �鶹��ý Maui College, in partnership with Hawaiian Electric, will offer the 10-week Maui Power Pathways Training Program on both Maui and Molokaʻi, significantly increasing access to hands-on, high-demand training.

The program, which runs from April 13 through June 19, 2026, provides participants with real-world experience across Hawaiian Electric’s generation operations. Training areas include electrical systems, combustion turbine operations, instrumentation and control technology, diesel mechanics and power plant operations.

Those who successfully complete the training will receive up to $3,000. Space is limited, and applications will be accepted through February 20, 2026.

“The immediate and total success of the Maui Power Pathways Training Program in its first year inspired us to expand the upcoming 2026 cohort to include Molokaʻi,” said UH Maui College Chancellor Lui Hokoana. “And that initial success was a result of the innovative and forward-looking partnership between our college and Hawaiian Electric. With the program’s expansion, we renew our commitment to training Maui Nui’s future workforce.”

Building a workforce pipeline

Applicants must be:

• Residents of Maui or Molokaʻi, depending on the training location
• Available for the duration of the program
• At least 18 years old
• Driver license-eligible, and
• Able to pass a criminal background check, drug screening and pre-employment physical

Participants from the previous cohort were successfully hired into positions at Hawaiian Electric’s generating facilities, demonstrating the program’s effectiveness in building a sustainable, local workforce pipeline within Maui County.

“Through our partnership with UH Maui College, the Maui Power Pathways training program exceeded our expectations,” said Kazu Hayashida, manager of workforce planning at Hawaiian Electric. “Our goal was to develop a pipeline of qualified candidates for future opportunities at our generating stations, and we were already able to successfully hire a number of trainees. We’re excited to again offer a direct pathway from training into careers with Hawaiian Electric.”

For questions, contact Hawaiian Electric Workforce Planning at HRWorkforcePlanning@hawaiianelectric.com.

Members of the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� recently visited Normal Robotics Lab, an innovative technology startup based in Kailua.

For UH ����ԴDz� students engaged in energy and sustainability research, the visit provided a firsthand look at how local startups are addressing global challenges through innovation rooted in �鶹��ý. Normal Robotics Lab offers internship and job opportunities to students, with the goal of keeping talented graduates in the islands while contributing to renewable energy and sustainable design.

“Tours like this are so valuable because they connect students with innovative local companies and job opportunities, highlighting �鶹��ý’s potential to be self-sustaining,” said Miles Topping, director of sustainability at the UH Office of Sustainability.

Normal Robotics Lab develops energy-efficient, modular heat pump .

During the visit, students and faculty heard directly from co-founder Ashten Akemoto, who shared the lab’s journey from passion project to growing startup. What began as a side project when its founders converted a 1968 Volkswagen bus into an electric vehicle sparked a larger mission: to create sustainable technology that blends hardware innovation with climate-conscious design.

“The tour was very interesting and informative,” said student Kiet Nguyen, “The thing that stood out to me the most about the heat pumps was how simple they were to have working but also how complex they could get.”

The University of �鶹��ý Better Tomorrow Speaker Series is hosting a public conversation to examine the future of clean energy in �鶹��ý and California. The free event, “Pacific Rising: How California and �鶹��ý Can Lead the Clean Energy Revolution,” will feature David Hochschild, chair of the California Energy Commission and is set for Thursday, August 7, at 6:30 p.m., in the Bishop Ballroom at AC Hotel Honolulu.

“We are so pleased to welcome David Hochschild to Oʻahu. UH is deeply involved in climate and energy research, from alternative fuels to grid integration to storage, and we look forward to strengthening our partnerships with institutions in California,” said Chip Fletcher, dean of UH ����ԴDz�’s .

Two states, one goal

As federal support for clean energy initiatives faces uncertainty under the current administration, state leadership has become increasingly vital. �鶹��ý made history as the first state to set a 100% renewable energy target, while California is now making unprecedented investments toward achieving the same goal.

“We look forward to discussing with Chair Hochschild how our states can work together to sustain the clean energy revolution, even as the feds shift into reverse,” said Chris Benjamin, chair and co-founder of Climate �鶹��ý, a co-sponsor of the event.

Energy expertise

Hochschild leads the California Energy Commission, an $8.5 billion agency responsible for energy planning and policy in the world’s fourth-largest economy. With more than 20 years of experience in energy transformation, he brings extensive expertise to the clean energy transition.

His leadership has earned numerous accolades, including the Sierra Club’s Trailblazer Award, the American Lung Association’s Clean Air Hero Award, and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Million Solar Roof True Champion Award. In 2024, he was named the American Energy Society’s Person of the Year.

Climate �鶹��ý serves as the lead event sponsor, with co-sponsorship from the �鶹��ý State Energy Office, Scholars Strategy Network and AC Hotel Honolulu.

The Better Tomorrow Speaker Series is a collaborative initiative of UH ����ԴDz�, the Learning Coalition, and the �鶹��ý Community Foundation, bringing together thought leaders to address pressing issues facing our communities.

A significant change to electricity pricing for large commercial customers in �鶹��ý is being recommended by the (UHERO).

A study, released August 27, recommends implementing a real-time pricing (RTP) tariff system. This approach would charge customers based on the hourly marginal cost of electricity production, a model known as locational marginal pricing (LMP). UHERO researchers say that this system could better manage grid demands, promote energy efficiency and fairly distribute costs among consumers.

According to the report authors Michael J. Roberts and Ethan Hartley, the system aims to reflect the true cost of energy production, including environmental and transmission expenses. The proposed tariff would combine variable pricing with a fixed charge to help cover infrastructure costs.

The new tariff would also let large customers build off-site solar and receive credit for generation at the locational marginal price. Because such facilities would likely be very profitable, the net benefits would be shared between energy-producing customer, other customers and Hawaiian Electric.

The report suggests piloting the program with UH, before potentially expanding to other large commercial customers.

“As Oʻahu’s electric grid transitions to clean energy, characterized by variable wind, solar, and storage resources, the marginal cost of electricity will become increasingly variable across time and location,” according to the report. “Consequently, the value of using LMP for customer billing and compensating distributed generation will increase significantly.”

The proposal draws inspiration from Georgia Power’s long standing RTP model, but includes modifications for �鶹��ý’s unique energy landscape.

As �鶹��ý pursues its goal of 100% renewable energy by 2045, UHERO believes this pricing strategy could play a crucial role in managing the state’s evolving power grid and supporting the integration of variable wind and solar resources.

.

UHERO is housed in UH ����ԴDz�’s .

A team led by University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa researchers aims to use a grant from the National Science Foundation to tackle clean energy needs on multiple fronts from sustainable solutions and integrating Native Hawaiian knowledge to engaging with high school students.

Led by UH Mānoa researcher Godwin Severa, the , in partnership with the National Science Foundation (NSF) Materials Research Science and Engineering Center at the University of Washington, will focus on challenges facing �鶹��ý, including reliance on imported fuels for electricity and transportation, resource and waste management, soil erosion and ocean contamination exacerbated by climate change.

“I am excited about increasing the number of diverse students trained in materials research,” said Severa, who is a faculty member in the (HIGP) at the UH Mānoa (SOEST). “The students trained on this project will increase �鶹��ý’s materials science workforce in the future, helping develop critical materials towards reducing our dependence on costly imported fuels for electricity and transportation and mitigating the effects of soil erosion and ocean contamination.”

Scientific breakthroughs, real-world solutions

“Our focus on novel materials within the project is all about turning scientific breakthroughs into real-world environmental solutions,” added Przemyslaw Dera, project co-investigator and HIGP researcher. “We are committed to developing materials that will contribute to sustainable technologies and help protect our planet.”

This project builds on the success of the team’s previous material science at UH Mānoa, which engaged Oʻahu middle/high school students, more than 20 UH Mānoa students, and six faculty through materials science research, education and outreach activities.

“This NSF funding will help grow our course offerings and support development of certificate and concentration programs in materials science through supporting training for students at all levels,” said Department of Mechanical Engineering Associate Professor and Department Chair Joseph Brown, also a project co-investigator. “I am excited to see our students gain experience in building cutting-edge automation and AI tools to address challenges in materials processing R&D experiments.”

“We are especially excited to give Consortium students the opportunity to expand their horizons,” said Hope Ishii, project co-investigator and astromaterials research scientist and affiliate faculty in SOEST. “We will create opportunities for them to use cutting-edge transmission electron microscopy on their own samples in a national laboratory, take tours at three national laboratories in California, and meet materials science experts.”

In continuing to work with �鶹��ý middle and high schools, Kamehameha Schools, UH community colleges and U.S. national facilities, the team will broaden materials science education in �鶹��ý. To increase the place-based value of curriculum, they will develop K-12 workshops and new UH Mānoa courses that incorporate Hawaiian cultural perspectives.

.

–By Marcie Grabowski

A blessing ceremony for a solar-plus-storage project located on approximately 66 acres of land was held in April 2024, but the work that made it a reality began nearly a decade earlier. That’s when a group of UH administrators started laying the foundation for the project that would help the 10-campus system meet its January 1, 2035 net-zero energy goal (producing as much as energy as consumed).

“I donʻt think people fully realize what it took to get to this point,” said UH Vice President for Administration (VPA) Jan Gouveia. “The moral of the story is that if you don’t start something now, you are not going to get something by 2035.”

The facility, built and operated by , is generating 12.5 megawatts of clean energy and is supported by a 50 megawatt hour battery energy storage system. It is operating under a 25-year power purchase agreement with Hawaiian Electric Co. (HECO) and is reducing fossil fuel use on Oʻahu by 750,000 barrels of oil.

Once upon a time, in 2015

HECO issued a Request For Information (RFI) for the project in 2015, a few months after Miles Topping was hired as the Director of Sustainability. Thatʻs when Topping brought the idea of using UH West Oʻahu lands for the project to Gouveia.

“Without Miles initially approaching us about this project, it never would have happened,” said Gouveia. “It then takes the staying power of key people over nine years to make something like this finally happen in 2024.”

The key people were Topping, Gouveia, VPA special assistant Carol Takahashi and UH attorney Bruce Matsui, who started meeting biweekly. Their early milestones included submitting UH lands to non binding HECO Land Request For Information, Board of Regent approval for Letter Of Intent (LOI) and Use and Occupancy (U&O) real estate agreement, and issuing the LOI and U&O to potential developers.

“The regents in 2018 really deserve a lot of credit for their willingness to venture a little outside of their comfort zone by approving a long-term agreement with an entity that was unknown at the time,” said Gouveia. “When you are trying to do something that has never been done before, you have to have the fortitude to do what it takes to make it happen.”

After AES �鶹��ý was awarded the bid in 2018, Nick Molinari from the energy company was added to the UH team. They navigated through several legal and regulatory issues with multiple agencies and private landowners including the Board of Water Supply, Grace Pacific Quarry and local farmers.

Topping says negotiating this complex landscape was meticulous and required extensive collaboration with stakeholders, adding the UH team’s dedication and expertise was essential.

“Jan is responsible for so many things and for her to have the bandwidth to pay attention to this and breathe life into it was, I mean, it’s just remarkable,” said Topping.

Project embraces UH West Oʻahu values

At the April 2024 blessing ceremony for the new facility, UH West Oʻahu Chancellor Maenette Benham said the project is a perfect fit for the campus.

“The solar project embraces all of our institutional values of Poʻokela (educational excellence), Waiwai (philanthropy, scholarships and partnerships), Hana Lawelawe (service to the larger community), Kaiāulu (our campus community), and Mālama Honua (care of land, sea and sky),” said Benham. “We look forward to the continued benefits that it brings for our students, faculty, staff and their ʻohana (family).”

Along with generating and storing clean energy, the land is being used for sheep grazing. AES �鶹��ý President Sandra Larsen said the solar-plus-storage project is focused on supporting Oʻahu’s economy and environment over the long term.

“It’s especially gratifying because the overall priority of this innovative clean energy project is to help make Oʻahu a better, healthier and more affordable place for future generations to make a life here for their families,” said Larsen.

A sentiment that everyone involved can take great pride in, especially the regents and the team of UH administrators who made it possible.

Nearly 20 University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� graduate students across several disciplines participated in a one-week intensive training program on computational modeling to solve complex problems related to Earth and energy. The workshop, hosted at UH ����ԴDz�, is supported by a $5 million grant through the to advance clean energy technologies within the next decade.

The participants learned theoretical and computational skills to model and understand geothermal energy and how partial differential equations are used to model complex physical processes and solved numerically. One of the codes the students learned about is , which was developed by UH researchers in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) labs and other universities.

“Key to this workshop was the breadth of research interests represented by the students, from atmospheric sciences to engineering, physics, computer sciences and mathematics,” said UH ����ԴDz� Professor Monique Chyba. “Each discipline comes with its own particular challenges and opportunities, but the extent to which the software described in this workshop can adapt to each situation is remarkable. Training the next generation of scientists that will go on working on the world climate issue as well as the health crisis is a primary mission of each university. These graduate students are our future.”

Chyba organized and led the workshop, and was assisted by computational scientists from two of the DOE labs, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Due to its geographic location, students at UH are often isolated from opportunities like this compared with students in the continental U.S.

Hands-on problem solving, visualization, computational experience

The scientists conducted hands-on problem solving sessions where the students ran software on specific problems using Koa, UH’s , as well as Amazon Web Services and the Perlmutter supercomputer, run by DOE’s .

“We were excited to be able to share our knowledge with these students,” said Ann Almgren, a senior scientist at LBNL. “Having these in-person interactions where we are able to talk about the types of projects we work on and how we solve these problems is really satisfying. It’s also wonderful for us to hear from the students about what they’re working on and how enthusiastic they are to tackle the next generation of challenges.”

Exposing the students to Earthshot applications was a priority. The workshop focused on geothermal energy (heat, water and permeability can support cost-competitive rates of energy extraction), and wind energy. Experts from Nā Pua Makani, a wind energy project in Kahuku, presented on the wind farm, followed by an open discussion on the use and capabilities of wind turbines. The students also visited UH’s and .

“I am now eager to learn about the particles, geothermal, these terms are really new,” said Azibun Nuder, a master’s student in . “I will think about the opportunities to collaborate because now I have the idea how to collaborate, how to do computational theories and everything. That was a new perspective for my research.”

Paving the way for future energy solutions

The summer program is supported by a UH ����ԴDz� project, “,” that will address fundamental applied mathematics and computer science issues relevant to advanced high-performance computational modeling for Energy Earthshots.

The principal investigator of this project is Alice Koniges, graduate faculty in the UH ����ԴDz� . The project is one of 29 across the country that received a total of $264 million from the Department of Energy. All projects will help to develop solutions for the scientific challenges outlined by the DOE’s Energy Earthshots Initiative to advance clean energy technologies within the decade.

“The workshop, as part of our important Science Foundations for Energy Earthshot award, is fundamental to educating the UH community and students, while also serving as a conduit for �鶹��ý to understand and participate in clean energy options,” Koniges said. “The workshop format is particularly conducive to providing educational opportunities locally and for mainland participants to understand Hawaiian values.”

—By Marc Arakaki

Daisy Green’s career has truly come full circle. Several years after graduating from the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� with a degree in , the Waikōloa, �鶹��ý Island local has returned to the as a new faculty member.

“I’m very grateful for this opportunity to return back home,” Green said. “Everyone here has been really nice and helped me get settled in and I’ve had the chance to talk with people about possible research collaborations.”

The 2012 Kealakehe High School graduate was a UH ����ԴDz� regent scholar and graduated in three and a half years. While at UH ����ԴDz�, Green cultivated her passion for being “green” and sustainable. She participated in an x96 project, working in the smart campus energy lab under the guidance of Professor Anthony Kuh.

After graduating from UH ����ԴDz�, she was accepted to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where she earned a master’s and PhD degree in electrical engineering and computer science, and worked as a postdoctoral associate. Green’s research focused on creating more energy efficient systems and better thermal control in buildings. She hopes her experiences and research interests in sustainability will help to create a clean energy future in �鶹��ý.

“I want to do research that helps establish a more sustainable electric grid,” Green said. “While we’re transitioning to more clean energy, there’s going to be more monitoring and control that’s required to ensure the stability and resilience of the grid.”

“Daisy has so much to offer the University as well as the State of �鶹��ý,” said UH ����ԴDz� College of Engineering Dean Brennon Morioka. “Not only is her expertise something that will help the State in achieving one of its very ambitious goals, being that of clean energy, but she will be also able to serve as a role model for many of our local students to help them envision what students in �鶹��ý can achieve while also encouraging them to consider careers right here at home.”

Serving up aces, on and off the court

During her time as a UH ����ԴDz� student, Green was also a member of the , competing for three seasons from 2012–15. She said juggling both academics and athletics helped to refine her time-management skills and hopes to support her students, not just in academics and research, but also about life.

“I definitely hope to be able to mentor students and help students find what path they want to take—especially in electrical engineering or other engineering fields,” Green said. “I want to give back to the many communities here which have also helped me along the way.”

Family support

Green is grateful for the support from her parents, Stephen and Yuko. Stephen, who is a UH mechanical engineering alumnus, annually contributes to UH to support students, and in 2018, he wrote a letter to President David Lassner expressing their appreciation of Daisy’s UH Regents scholarship, which—along with the UH Presidential scholarship—supports �鶹��ý students with a record of outstanding academic achievement.

A father thanks UH for daughter’s continued success, January 16, 2018

“My parents are great,” Green said. “They’re very supportive of anything that I wanted to pursue—both in terms of school and tennis. Since my dad graduated with a mechanical engineering degree from UH, it’s definitely a full circle moment. They’re very happy that I’m back here.”

While she may be one of the newest additions to the engineering faculty roster, Green’s experiences and accomplishments prove that she really is a seasoned professional and not “green.”

—By Marc Arakaki

Using artificial intelligence (AI) to improve energy efficiency, and transforming waste into pre-refined biomass are a pair of projects that won pitch events in �鶹��ý and are headed to nationals to compete for more than $400,000 in cash prizes.

Quang Loc Lam, a University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� PhD student in in the , created a company called “Energy AId” that uses AI to identify the pattern of energy usage in buildings and find opportunities to improve energy efficiency.

“It’s our responsibility to come up with sustainable solutions now to alleviate the burden for the next generation,” Lam said. “Using AI and other technologies, we can significantly improve energy efficiency and reduce energy costs for buildings. It’s exciting to think about the possibilities.”

Kunlan Yang, a senior undergraduate student, launched “ABLE,” a �鶹��ý-based biowaste company that transforms waste from businesses such as restaurants, hotels, and farms into pre-refined biomass, which is then sold to biofuel refineries. Yang’s mission is to revolutionize the perception of food waste, serving as a comprehensive solution and driving �鶹��ý toward its 2045 sustainability goals.

“The inspiration for this idea struck me after backpacking through Europe, where I realized there is significant value in leftover food,” Yang said. “Fueled by a passion for food and the environment, this idea uses biofuel technology to extract value from food waste and turn it into a source of renewable energy.”

National showcase

Lam and Yang are headed to nationals called the . They are among 225 teams from 117 schools that will compete in the competition hosted by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Technology Transitions (OTT).

Over the next several weeks, the competitors will develop actionable and scalable plans for business and commercialization opportunities around high-potential energy technologies. The three-phase competition is supporting the next generation of clean energy leaders in the U.S., who have the potential for global impact on the cleantech industry. Competitors are provided with free resources, including exclusive access to OTT’s Energy I-Corps curriculum, and mentorship from industry leaders to help them hone their proposals.

Cultivating new innovators

The (PACE) at the Shidler College of Business serves as a collaborative hub for innovation, entrepreneurship, and knowledge exchange. Recognizing the need for innovation in the energy sector, PACE encouraged its students to participate in the Department of Energy’s national challenge. Lam and Yang, who both serve as , stepped up to the challenge, put their application in and advanced to the regional pitch event. PACE Entrepreneur-in-Residence Jeff Hui is coaching the teams for the regional event, and the teams are also tapping into the network of resources offered by PACE.

“PACE is proud of these students for advancing to the regional pitch event and representing the university in this national competition,” said PACE Executive Director Sandra Fujiyama. “Activities like this provide students with valuable practical learning experiences, and showcase the innovative ideas of our students to address energy challenges locally and globally, which aligns with the Shidler College of Business’ and the university’s strategic plans.”

has received $125,000 to bolster the resilience of neighborhoods around Lēʻahi (Diamond Head) to natural disasters as part of a larger $500,000 grant from the (FEMA) Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) Program.

A Kapiʻolani CC’s grant funded initiative called the (CERENE) will oversee the funding to support the development of partnerships between community organizations and government agencies to improve disaster preparedness. Kapiʻolani CC‘s student Resilience Corps Leaders, funded by the Hawaiian Electric Company and under the supervision of CERENE Program Coordinator Miku Lenentine, will convene engagement workshops with partners, conduct qualitative assessments of workshop findings, and assist in final reporting. They will also mentor other students interested in the climate resilience of their neighborhoods.

“This project is a great example of how sectors and communities can come together to build resilience to climate change,” said Robert Franco, professor of social sciences at Kapiʻolani CC and head faculty member for CERENE. “By working together, we can create a more sustainable and resilient future for our neighborhoods and islands.”

Solar-powered backup system

The will use $375,000 of the FEMA–BRIC grant to implement a solar-powered microgrid energy backup system at Kaimukī Middle School. This system will increase the school’s ability to operate independently off the grid during a power outage, supporting activities such as food preparation, refrigeration, device charging and medical equipment usage. It will also make it an ideal logistics and communication center for first responders in the Lēʻahi area during emergencies.

Lenentine added, “CERENE will work with the City and County of Honolulu to develop a plan for replicating the Kaimukī Middle School project at other schools and community centers on the island. We believe that by empowering our communities, we can create a more sustainable and resilient future for all. The Kaimukī Microgrid Solar Energy Project is just one step in that direction.”

As one of the most geographically isolated regions in the world, �鶹��ý residents contend with the highest electricity prices in the U.S., about double the national average. This is due largely in part to a heavy dependence on imported petroleum and lack of fossil fuel resources.

However, below the Hawaiian Islands lies a geological hotspot in the Earth’s mantle that has been active for the past 70 million years, formed the island archipelago and continues to fuel �鶹��ý’s active volcanoes. Because of this hotspot and the presence of subsurface heat, the use of geothermal energy can prove to be a viable option to solve some of the state’s energy woes.

Geothermal electricity is clean, inexpensive and firm—with the last meaning that is “always on” regardless of weather conditions or time of day. Geothermal also has the lowest land footprint compared to solar power and wind, and, unlike the other intermittent resources, no battery storage is needed. Currently, the state’s lone geothermal plant on �鶹��ý Island produces five times the amount of electricity as one of the state’s largest solar farms, while requiring 80% less land area.

Evidence collected by the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� suggests that all of the major Hawaiian Islands may hold the subsurface heat that is necessary to produce geothermal energy. However, the current state of understanding of geothermal potential outside of Kīlauea’s East Rift Zone (KERZ), the most active rift of the state’s most active volcano on �鶹��ý Island, is very limited. KERZ is where geothermal exploration was focused in the 1970s, and is the only location in the Hawaiian archipelago where geothermal electric power is being produced.

�鶹��ý Groundwater and Geothermal Resources Center

As �鶹��ý is the only U.S. state without a geological survey, UH ����ԴDz� has contributed much of what is known about �鶹��ý’s geology. Since producing �鶹��ý’s first geothermal well in the 1970s, UH ����ԴDz� has spearheaded �鶹��ý’s geothermal research, including producing the only two statewide resource assessments by Professors Donald Thomas and Nicole Lautze of the (HIGP) in 1985 and 2017, respectively. HIGP is housed in the UH ����ԴDz� .

Realizing the need to provide a central hub from which to disseminate data and information from their numerous geothermal and groundwater research projects throughout the state, Lautze and Thomas founded the (HGGRC) in 2014. HGGRC, led by Lautze, conducts research on �鶹��ý’s fresh groundwater, geothermal (including shallow geothermal heat pump technology for building cooling) and carbon storage potential.

�鶹��ý Play Fairway Project

The �鶹��ý Play Fairway project was among HGGRC’s most important initiatives. UH ����ԴDz� was one of 11 initial phase I projects selected and funded by the U.S. Department of Energy from across the country to identify blind hydrothermal systems (those without surface expression). The project, led by Lautze, received subsequent phase II and III funding from 2014–20 and provided the first statewide geothermal assessment of the Hawaiian Islands since Thomas’ original report in 1985.

Ultimately, the �鶹��ý Play Fairway Project provided an updated statewide geothermal resource assessment, expanded understanding of �鶹��ý’s groundwater location and quality, and a roadmap for additional work to better characterize both resources. HGGRC’s philosophy is that more data will bring more knowledge, and that when this knowledge is shared with stakeholders and communities, more informed decisions can be made.

“I think nearly everyone in �鶹��ý would value a low cost, low footprint, resilient, Indigenous, energy supply. But there are tradeoffs for some. If geothermal has a chance, community engagement will play a critical role,” said Lautze. “HGGRC will continue to work with stakeholders and local communities to advocate for the necessary funding to move the state one step closer to understanding and realizing its geothermal potential.”

She added, “The global geothermal community wonders why there isn’t more geothermal electricity generation in �鶹��ý. The answer is complex, but I think that if we could get even a small power plant online in a location where the local community is supportive, I think it would be transformative for our state.”

For more on the �鶹��ý Play Fairway Project objectives, . Noelo is UH’s research magazine from the .

For island and remote communities in the U.S., developing resilient electricity infrastructure and energy systems can be fraught with challenges. In �鶹��ý, the (�鶹��ý Sea Grant) was awarded $400,000 to collaborate with the (HSEO) to inform the state’s energy future. The project team will work to build trusted, long-term relationships with the remote communities most impacted by energy grid fragility and in need of multiple options for making the energy transition.

“Our team aims to help communities approach renewable energy in the overall context of hazard and emergency preparedness, rather than as a stand-alone issue. We are looking forward to building on existing outreach programs to further build individual community resilience,” said Amy Wirts, �鶹��ý Sea Grant’s coastal lands program coordinator and one of the project leads on the grant.

NOAA’s (Sea Grant), in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Water Power Technologies Office, is supporting projects in Alaska, Guam and �鶹��ý that will examine how adoption of ocean renewable energy could support sustainable energy systems. Nationwide, Sea Grant and DOE recommended three projects for a total of $800,000 to conduct community engagement activities that will help illuminate community values, perceptions and cultural contexts around energy innovation and resilience.

By placing communities at the center of technology advancement efforts and gleaning on-the-ground information about local, place-based energy transitions, the results of these projects will be critical to helping inform DOE programmatic efforts that catalyze innovative energy solutions.

“It is critical to support these communities as they engage in the process of identifying, planning and developing the local clean energy resources that meet their long-term needs,” said Jonathan Pennock, director of Sea Grant. “Sea Grant is excited to partner with DOE’s to assist communities in effectively engaging with emerging energy technologies intended to secure a sustainable, resilient and equitable future.”

Community-based energy planning

The projects’ overall goal is to develop information pathways and build trusted relationships, and to support community-based energy planning to unlock ocean energy development. The three main elements of the �鶹��ý project are: (1) expand the existing HSEO Energize Kākou community engagement program to include ocean energy and rural communities; (2) further develop the HSEO Clean Energy Wayfinders outreach program; and (3) build capacity for community and local organizations to directly engage with underserved communities to support energy transition.

Ocean energy systems can harness energy from the power of ocean waves, tides and currents, or even the differences in salt levels, temperatures and pressure. These resources are incredibly predictable, meaning ocean energy technologies have the potential to be important contributors to a reliable and clean electricity grid.

The project leads from �鶹��ý Sea Grant include Amy Wirts, Katy Hintzen and Darren Okimoto. .

–By Cindy Knapman

At the in May, University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa graduate student Isabella Kotsol earned a scholarship and poster presentation award. Kotsol presented research to develop specialized materials for use in air filters for hydrogen fuel cells.

Hydrogen fuel cells generate power from a reaction between hydrogen and oxygen, and produce only electricity, heat and water, making this a critical technology in the transition to clean energy. Typically, the oxygen used is from atmospheric air; however, air pollutants such as sulfur dioxide can enter the fuel cell and damage crucial components, so mitigating sulfur dioxide contamination through air filtration is necessary.

Working with Godwin Severa, assistant researcher at the in the UH Mānoa , Kotsol focuses on a filtration material made of activated carbon that has been coated in chemicals called ionic liquids, which have a high capacity for absorbing sulfur dioxide from the air.

“The findings of my research showed that the ionic liquid-coated activated carbon materials performed better than previously reported materials for sulfur dioxide filtration,” said Kotsol, who is pursuing a master’s degree in and expects to graduate in December 2023.

Kotsol presented research among 12 graduate student presenters from universities across the country. The presentations were judged by industry professionals in the filtrations and separations field.

“As a soon-to-be graduating master’s degree student, the opportunity to attend this conference and network with the people who work in the field of my research was particularly valuable,” said Kotsol, who is part of the ’s accelerated . “I am starting to think about what I will do after graduation, and being able to talk to and exchange information with a variety of professionals has definitely broadened my ideas and access to opportunities in the research field, something I would not have had without the conference experience.”

For the .

The ’s Green Revolving Fund has received $50,000 through the Ulupono Fund at the �鶹��ý Community Foundation.

UH Mānoa’s Green Revolving Fund is an internal investment fund created to reinvest cost savings and rebates from energy efficiency projects. The Green Revolving Fund is an important part of the university’s effort to move toward its “net zero” goal by 2035 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. To date, UH has achieved just over 9% of its net zero goal and the output supported by the Green Revolving Fund will greatly contribute toward achieving this goal in less than 13 years.

Universities across the U.S. use revolving funds to provide financing upfront for energy efficiency upgrades and use the savings from the lower operating expenses, as well as rebates and other philanthropic sources, to replenish the fund.

The grant provided through the Ulupono Fund will help accelerate projects planned at the Mānoa campus, which is currently going through an exterior lighting retrofit with energy-efficient LED lighting that will use 64% less energy than the current high-intensity discharge light fixtures and have a longer lifespan and require less maintenance. UH also recently installed a solar PV shade atop the lower-campus parking structure.

Related: PV parking canopy to help UH reach net-zero goal, August 2022

“This support from the Ulupono Fund at the �鶹��ý Community Foundation will help us complete even more efficiency projects, such as the LED light installations, while adding to the fund for future projects,” said Miles Topping, director of energy management at UH Mānoa. “We’re grateful for their support.”

“We are pleased to support UH Mānoa and its energy-efficient projects, which have the potential to save the university millions of dollars each year in energy costs by embracing energy efficiency,” said Murray Clay, Ulupono Initiative president. “This is one of many examples where we work with our partners by supporting sustainable solutions to positively help transform our community and the lives of our neighbors.”

The campus is closing a second phase of its Strategic Energy Management Master Plan, and entering a third phase, which will involve installing more solar photovoltaic panels on buildings around the campus. Other energy efficiency projects include LED lighting replacements, HVAC efficiency improvements, battery storage, water efficiency measures and waste management.

The University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa, through its (HNEI), is introducing a new technology development and demonstration program aimed at reducing the cost of operating electric vehicles (EVs) and on-campus electricity expenses. The program offers bidirectional EV charging, allowing electricity to flow both ways between the EVs and the power grid via on-campus charging stations.

By signing up for this program and completing the necessary training, qualified UH Mānoa personnel will have access to two EVs conveniently located on campus.

The program supports UH Mānoa’s efforts to achieve net-zero energy by 2035 and to replace its gas-powered vehicles with EVs. The optimization algorithm developed in-house by HNEI determines the most economical times to charge and discharge the EVs, taking into account fluctuating electricity costs, on-campus PV production, and campus power demand throughout the day. By charging the EVs when electricity is cheapest and using the EV battery power during peak times, the system saves money on energy costs.

“The more people sign up, and the more people use it, the richer the data set will be for us to really evaluate, and then further tune our algorithms to extract more value out of the system… [and] by using bidirectional charging, we have the opportunity to actually drive down the cost of operating vehicles for purposes of this campus,” said Leon Roose, HNEI specialist.

Overall, this program is helping UH Mānoa become more sustainable and reduce its carbon footprint. Potential EV drivers are required to review a user manual (or participate in optional in-person training) and sign a consent form to participate in the program.

Any potential EV drivers can contact Ai Oyama at aioyama@hawaii.edu.

�鶹��ý tax experts are recommending a new carbon tax for the state. If implemented, �鶹��ý will become the first state in the nation to do so. A new blog by (UHERO) experts says “the rationale for a carbon tax remains sound,” however, it wouldn’t come without negative impacts.

A carbon tax is a tax on each metric ton of greenhouse gas (GHG) emitted. It is intended to encourage less fossil fuel use by switching to renewable energy sources. The tax can also generate substantial revenue. In jurisdictions that have a carbon tax, such as in Canada, typically most of the revenue collected is distributed to residents. If the tax is effective in reducing fossil fuel use, the revenue declines, adjustments to a carbon-free economy are made, and rebates stop.

�鶹��ý’s constitution requires a Tax Review Commission (TRC) be appointed every five years to review the state’s tax/revenue system. In its final report to the Legislature, the 2020–22 TRC’s top recommendation was a carbon tax for �鶹��ý.

As of April 2022, there were 37 jurisdictions around the world with carbon taxes. Congress has not enacted a carbon tax for the U.S. In 2022, Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act, which will invest $391 billion in energy security and climate change, of which $270 billion will be in the form of tax incentives/subsidies. The subsidies approach won’t work for �鶹��ý because it requires deep pockets, as the U.S. government can run budget deficits to fund subsidies, but the State of �鶹��ý cannot.

TRC’s recommendations

The TRC is asking state lawmakers to “Enact a carbon tax that reflects the social cost of carbon. Return 80% of the proceeds, other than proceeds from aviation fuel, to households.” The social cost of carbon is an estimate of the global economic damage caused by a ton of GHG emissions. The remaining 20%, which amounts to between $90 million and $100 million per year for the first five years, should go to mitigate the effects of climate change. The analyses are based on a carbon tax set at the federal government’s estimate of the social cost of carbon starting at $56 per metric ton of GHG emitted in 2025.

Additional findings discovered that rebating 80% of the carbon tax revenues in “equal shares” to households divided into five income groups will make the average household in each of the groups economically better off after paying the tax, in part because tourists contribute to carbon tax revenues but don’t qualify for rebates.

Limitations to the recommendations

Since the analyses of households focus on the average household in each income group, some households gain and some lose as there can be wide variations in energy use among households. A carbon tax also creates a risk that exports are more costly leading to lower export volumes due to reduced competitiveness.

In �鶹��ý, the carbon tax would negatively affect tourism by raising the cost of visiting the state. Returning 80% of the tax revenue generated by the tax to households restores some of the household spending and thus dampens some of the negative effects of the tax. There will still be a “small” contraction of the �鶹��ý economy.

“�鶹��ý is currently experiencing high inflation and anemic economic growth. With that sobering scenario, state lawmakers have an excuse to delay enactment of a carbon tax (or implement with a lower tax rate) in the upcoming legislative session. However, the rationale for a carbon tax remains sound,” the UHERO blog said.

UHERO is housed in UH ����ԴDz�’s .

.

A $2.4-million grant from the Office of Naval Research will enable the University of �鶹��ý to develop and advance energy, marine and other blue economy (conserving marine and freshwater environments) technologies and opportunities in �鶹��ý.

The funding will help UH provide cross-disciplinary learning opportunities and give students a chance to participate in hands-on projects and entrepreneurial training. The overall aim is to strengthen the state’s economy and workforce.

“We’re grateful to the Office of Naval Research for this unique opportunity to collectively develop and commercialize scalable technologies at UH, while expanding �鶹��ý’s blue economy innovation and entrepreneurship pathways and building workforce capacity,” said Vassilis L. Syrmos, UH vice president of research and innovation. “Through these targeted initiatives, we will be able to collaboratively identify, develop and translate our world-class research into impact-driven ventures to help diversify and stimulate our state’s economy.”

Through this grant, UH will launch three new programs this year—Hacking4X, Patents2Products and Faculty Fellows—which will be run by the (OIC):

• Hacking4X (H4X) is a semester-long, sprint-like design program launching in January 2023 that will teach students to work through one iteration of the product design process. Students will learn about and go through the Lean Startup methodology with an emphasis on the customer discovery process. At the end of the program, project teams will showcase their work during a pitch competition at an Annual Tri-State Innovation Showcase. Each year, the H4X program will follow a central theme that reflects health and marine challenges within the state of �鶹��ý. Spring 2023 will focus on Hacking4Environment, with Hacking4Health planned for spring 2024.
• Patents2Products is a year-long funded fellowship opportunity launching in fall 2023. Available to PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers, Patents2Products fellows will translate innovative ideas into marketable solutions by building the necessary skills to progress proof-of-concept prototypes in the lab to minimum viable products toward commercialization. Fellows will work on research assignments either within a research lab with UH intellectual property or with UH-affiliated companies. Selected participants will broaden their innovation and entrepreneurial skill sets through experiential training workshops to support the assessment of commercial landscapes around respective technologies under development, while supporting product and business development efforts to further advance the technology readiness level. Applications will open in spring 2023. OIC is currently seeking program partners, including UH-affiliated technology companies or faculty research labs with UH intellectual property, who would value support from Patents2Products fellows. An informational webinar for potential program partners will be held on January 18 at 9 a.m. HST. To register, .
• Faculty Fellows is a semester-long program, which focuses on enhancing faculty involvement in innovation and entrepreneurship, and establishing an active, collaborative network of colleagues motivated to weave entrepreneurship principles into their teaching and research curriculum. This aligns with the UH 2023–2029 strategic plan, which highlights nurturing an innovation and entrepreneurship culture in the UH community to strengthen next generation workforce development. Piloting in summer 2023, participating faculty will undergo training in Lean Startup methodologies and integrate techniques directly into their courses at the end of the program.

“We developed these highly immersive and experiential training programs to facilitate the transformation of ideas to impact,” said OIC Technology Licensing Officer and Innovation Programs Associate Director Rebecca Chung, one of the grant’s principal investigators. “These programs will prepare researchers to extend their focus beyond the academic laboratory environment. We want to increase the capacity for innovation and accelerate the economic and societal benefits of technological developments.”

Through this initiative, UH will partner with two other public universities, the University of Alaska Fairbanks and the University of Rhode Island.

AES’ West Oʻahu Solar project located on approximately 66 acres of lands at the – Mauka, will be a 12.5 megawatt solar photovoltaic (PV) facility with 50 megawatt hour of battery energy storage, which enables clean energy generated to be used when it’s needed. This project will help UH reach its energy and sustainability goals while providing a new revenue stream to support higher education.

The West Oʻahu Solar Project site and boundaries were intentionally defined to allow other UH West Oʻahu – Mauka lands with a higher productivity rating to be used for future agricultural activities. AES leases approximately 66 acres of land for the West Oʻahu Solar Project from UH and will sell the electricity it generates to Hawaiian Electric Industries. AES is targeting June 2023 for construction completion and the start of operations.

The West Oʻahu Solar Project at UH West Oʻahu – Mauka is the latest initiative helping the 10-campus system reach its goal of net-zero energy by 2035. UH defines this net-zero energy goal as consuming only as much energy as is produced by its renewable energy resources.

“This project is proof of our commitment to our net-zero energy goal,” said Jan Gouveia, UH vice president for administration. “It will help generate revenue to support our higher education mission while also showing our students and the people of �鶹��ý that the University of �鶹��ý is doing its part to save our planet.”

The project will generate lease revenue for UH to support its higher education mission. In addition, AES will be contributing $25,000 to UH Foundation to establish an education program to support UH West ��ʻ�����’s development of STEM programs, which include informational material, educational and training sessions, internship and employment opportunities, and access to the solar PV project.

“This is a beneficial project for the University in that it helps contribute to our net-zero energy goals, while creating an additional lease revenue stream and educational contributions towards STEM programs and initiatives of the University,” said Michael Shibata, UH director of Strategic Development and Partnership.

The Life Sciences Building, the newest facility on the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� campus, now features shaded outdoor space where students can study comfortably and charge their laptops and smartphones, day and night.

Five photovoltaic (PV) powered umbrella, table and bench systems have been installed in the building courtyard. Each system is designed to accommodate four people with four waterproof AC outlets, four wireless charging stations and lighting. The 9-kilowatt system includes self-sufficient batteries able to power twenty laptops at a time, no matter the time of day. One of the tables is wheelchair accessible.

The university is considering expanding on the $100,000 pilot project and providing similar outdoor study spaces on campus. Recent student surveys identified a desire for more outdoor study spaces with access to power.

The project is a modest step forward in the UH 10-campus system goal of net-zero energy by 2035. Net-zero energy is when the energy generated is more than the energy consumed. UH ����ԴDz� completed installation of a PV array canopy over the lower campus parking structure in August 2022 that is scheduled to be fully operational by December 2022.

The (HCF) announced plans for ʻIole, a nonprofit place-based research center and living scientific laboratory in Kohala on �鶹��ý Island that will bring together academic experts, Native Hawaiian practitioners, community members, students and government leaders to develop sustainability solutions rooted in ancestral knowledge and indigenous practices. Leveraging expertise and resources from partners at the University of �鶹��ý and Arizona State University (ASU), ʻIole will prioritize its initial programming around three focus areas: energy security, food security and place-based learning.

ʻIole is the result of approximately 2,400 acres of land and assets in the process of being generously gifted to HCF from the New Moon Foundation and the Kohala Institute.

The vision for ʻIole is based on the Native Hawaiian sense of shared responsibility to care for, learn from, and thrive off of defined, self-sustaining sections of land known as ahupuaʻa. The nonprofit will restore and cultivate the ʻIole ahupuaʻa, while developing solutions-based models that can be scaled and replicated in other parts of the world. Solutions emerging from ʻIole will be deeply connected and rooted to the richness and resilience of the historic community of Kohala.

“We are excited at this opportunity to collaboratively envision a 21st century ahupuaʻa,” said UH President David Lassner. “ʻIole can be a place grounded in Hawaiian values and knowledge where we are jointly committed to the innovation and courage necessary to integrate traditional and modern ways of learning, doing and living. The faculty and students of our ten UH campuses can bring to ʻIole our wealth of traditional knowledge of our islands, our understanding of hundreds of years of sustainable living here, our decades of cutting edge research across every discipline and on every island, and our deep commitment to learn how we can all live together sustainably.”

Alapaki Nahale-a, a current UH regent and former senior director of community engagement and resources for �鶹��ý Island at Kamehameha Schools, will serve as Interim CEO of ʻIole. Nahale-a will be responsible for overseeing operations, staffing and the execution of programming. His initial priorities will be to develop the mission, vision and values for the nonprofit; establish a collaborative community process for discussions and program development.

“I am honored and humbled to begin the necessary process of establishing a strong foundation for ʻIole,” said Nahale-a. “We have the opportunity to restore this special place back to abundance, much like our ancestors before us did. As we listen to ʻIole and do what is right for the land, it is my hope that others will be inspired to take responsibility for their own place and share in the belief that humans can live as a healthy part of earth’s ecosystem.”

ʻIole is an opportunity to bring together place, people, belief, commitment, and action in a way that changes how people behave in the world, ensuring future generations the chance for prosperity.

Thuy Nguyen Fujimoto, president and co-founder of the New Moon Foundation; Bennett Dorrance Jr., vice-president and co-founder of the New Moon Foundation; and Jason Fujimoto, president of the Kohala Institute, shared the following in a joint statement: “Our vision is for ʻIole to be a place and values-based living classroom that practices and models collaboration for the benefit of our �鶹��ý and global communities. We believe and trust in the �鶹��ý Community Foundation and its partners to bring new capacity to ʻIole and carry the important responsibility of this place into its next chapter.”

“The world needs authentic solutions to our planet’s most urgent issues, from food security to climate change, to ensure a sustainable future for all people. Solutions that combine ancestral knowledge and indigenous practices with revolutionary science will produce a culturally sound framework that protects the well-being of both people and place,” said Micah Kane, CEO and president of the �鶹��ý Community Foundation. “Through our collaborative work at ʻIole, �鶹��ý has the opportunity to continue to lead the fight against climate change and affect social issues impacting communities here, and across the globe.”

“The ʻIole ahupuaʻa is the epitome of potential for sustainable action and community resilience here on �鶹��ý Island,” said Mayor Mitch Roth. “Our administration has committed to fostering a �鶹��ý Island where our keiki can thrive and succeed for generations to come, and in that, we are excited to support ʻIole and its partnering organizations in every way possible.”

HCF, UH and ASU have committed to jointly raising $6.75 million for the operations of ʻIole for the first three years of the project. The funding allows ʻIole to focus on properly implementing programming and creating impact without being burdened by financial stress or constraint.

“ʻIole is a unique opportunity to bring together the people of �鶹��ý, �鶹��ý community groups, �鶹��ý government leaders, and university partners to advance community engagement, scientific research and educational opportunities—all in one place,” said ASU President, Michael Crow. “Our hope is to come together and work collaboratively to improve the health of our lands, waters and planet.”

HCF has engaged additional local organizations, including Kamehameha Schools and Hawaiian Electric Industries, which are directly interested and impacted by ʻIole’s focus areas. Their interest and involvement will further direct and enhance the global value of the solutions developed at ʻIole.