Hawaiian Electric

Watch this video provided by Malama Learning Center to learn more on how sheep can lessen #wildfire risks. Shermaih “Bulla” Iaea, a retired firefighter, spent most of his 28-year career at the Waianae fire station. In 2018, Bulla and his wife were trapped on their six-acre farm when a wildfire furiously spread through the Waianae Valley. He saw firsthand at the level of devastation a wildfire can cause and lost 36 mango trees, 4 or 5 lychee trees and his entire aquaculture business. Bulla focuses his time on reducing the ‘fuel’ to potential wildfires. In addition to cutting down the trees in the wildland urban interface (zone that transitions from wilderness to human activity) that surrounds his community, he aims to reduce the grass using sheep. Sheep love to eat grass. It’s a simple way to reduce the fuel rather than constantly maintaining the area with a lawnmower.

There are so many great local coffee shops in the Chinatown and downtown Honolulu area, and today we are highlighting Alii Coffee Company! Alii Coffee Company is a local specialty coffee shop and roastery in Honolulu. They have expanded to three stores including Waikiki and Ward, but their original location is in downtown Honolulu, where they roast all their coffees which are sourced from all over the world. One of their customer favorites is their ube latte, which is a vibrant purple color with delicious flavor! But, in addition to specialty coffees, they also offer breakfast items and freshly made sandwiches. Plus, they serve high-quality matcha lattes including their recently added strawberry and mango matcha lattes, which joined their menu just in time for summer! Visit Ali‘i Coffee Co. at 35 S. Beretania Street in Downtown Honolulu, between Fort Street and Bethel Street. Let’s continue to spread aloha to the businesses and restaurants in the Chinatown and downtown Honolulu area! Music: Misses by Dominic Fike

“Emergency preparedness and management is a community effort. With the increase in severe weather conditions and our changing climate, it's even more important that we work together to grow our resilience.” In a new blog post, Alyssa Okamura, from our digital communications team, reflects on her experience at Hawaiian Electric’s Wildfire Safety Symposium, held this past April in Hilo. Wildfire safety experts from utilities, agencies, research institutes and the state were invited to this two-day technical symposium to focus on reducing Hawaii’s wildfire risk by sharing insights about collective actions to keep our communities safe and discussing immediate to long-term strategies for both safety and grid resilience. Panel discussions featured wildfire experts from around the world, with representatives from California, Australia, and Puerto Rico. Each of these organizations is at a different stage of wildfire safety planning and offered advice and insights from their own experiences. Everyone was willing to share and learn from one another. The symposium was a space to collaborate and served as a platform for curiosity and clarification. When it comes to the safety of our customers and community, it was about uplifting each other so that everyone could keep their people safe. “I also became more aware of how challenging the planning process for wildfire safety protocols and a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) program can be,” writes Alyssa. “Everyone — residents, businesses, emergency responders, water companies, telecommunications providers − will be impacted and that’s why it is so important to work together to prepare.” Read the full blog at https://lnkd.in/g7EXcdKQ View the Wildfire Safety Symposium presentation slides and event program, at https://lnkd.in/gUQ4-YpD.

As we continue to spread aloha to the small businesses and restaurants in the Chinatown and downtown Honolulu area who were impacted by the recent power outages, today we want to highlight Strode Montessori Pre-School! Strode Montessori focuses on early education for children ages six weeks to six years old. Pamela Strode, the owner and director of Strode Montessori, emphasizes that a Montessori education caters to each individual child, allowing them to learn in a way that fits their independent needs and interests. Strode Montessori Pre-School welcomes applications for enrollment at any time of the year. To learn more, visit: strodemontessori.com

Chinatown is filled with flavors from around the world, like at Rangoon Burmese Kitchen where you can enjoy authentic Burmese cuisine! Rangoon Burmese Kitchen focuses on traditional Burmese and tribe dishes from Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, with bold tastes and a large variety of foods to choose from, including vegetarian options. Myanmar is an area filled with different ethnicities, and Burmese cuisine includes Chinese, Indian, and Thai influences. The food here is family style, which is perfect for trying the many dishes, from the platha and curry dip to lamb biryani, basil chicken, and an array of curries! Visit Rangoon Burmese Kitchen at 1131 Nuuanu Ave. in Chinatown on Oahu. Let’s continue to spread aloha to the businesses and restaurants in the Chinatown and downtown Honolulu area! Music: Happy Meal by Carabide and himood on Instagram 

On Saturday, June 16, 2024, “Be Ready Manoa” hosted a disaster preparedness fair at Manoa Marketplace to raise awareness of the potential hazards Manoa residents on Oahu face. Thank you to everyone who attended! At this event, our employees shared disaster readiness tips and our wildfire safety strategies so that our communities can be informed and well-prepared in case of an emergency. Several organizations were also in attendance to provide storm safety information, including the Honolulu Police Department and the National Weather Service. For more storm safety tips, visit https://lnkd.in/g4tA4BBa.

Find a taste of Chicago in Hawaii at The Nighthawk in Chinatown on Oahu! Eddie, owner of The Nighthawk, was born and raised in Chicago, and worked at his uncle’s Chicago diner when he was 12 years old. He has been in Hawaii since 1998 and wanted to bring that Chicago diner experience to Hawaii with The Nighthawk, which offers a variety of classic foods like the Chicago style hot dogs, Italian beef sandwiches, cheese curds, wings, and burgers. In addition, there are some Asian fusion dishes mixed in as well, like the Kung Fu Ham, which is a delicious deep fried pork belly with Thai chili garlic sauce. Stop by at The Nighthawk on 12 S. King Street in Chinatown on Oahu, for a tasty Chicago-inspired foods and a great ambiance. Let’s continue to spread aloha to the small businesses in the Chinatown and downtown Honolulu area! Music: Candle Flame (Opolopo Remix) by Jungle 

Check your emergency preparedness kits and make sure you use your canned goods before they go bad! Join our senior community affairs consultants, Sam Nichols and Sam Pauso, in the kitchen as they make a delicious corn soufflé using their expiring canned goods. As you restock your emergency preparedness kit for storm season, don’t forget to check the expiration dates on both your food and medical supplies to make sure that it’s safe to use. Find more recipes in our Emergency Preparedness Handbook on our website, at https://lnkd.in/gam_DVa. 

Giovedi means Thursday in Italian! The former Kakaako pop-up restaurant found its permanent home in Chinatown at the previous Encore Saloon (10 N Hotel St.) location. The innovative Italian-Asian fusion restaurant opened its doors in June 2024. They feature classic Italian dishes combined with familiar Asian flavors. It’s a small menu that encourages you to try everything. The atmosphere can be intimate or lively, depending on where you are seated. Giovedi is the perfect place to enjoy exceptional food with great company. Let’s continue to support local small businesses in the Chinatown and downtown Honolulu area. Music credit: NewJeans – Bubble Gum

Happy 4th of July! In observance of the federal holiday, our offices will be closed. We will resume normal business operations tomorrow, July 5, 2024, at 7:30 a.m. Enjoy your 4th of July and remember to celebrate safely!