Unveiling The Ownership Of Hawaii Electric Company: Who's In Charge?

Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. (HEI) is the parent company of Hawaiian Electric (HECO), which operates as a single entity with its subsidiaries Maui Electric Company (MECO) and Hilo Electric Light Company (HELCO). NextEra Energy tendered an offer to purchase HEI for $4.3 billion in 2014.

History of Hawaiian Electric Industries

Hawaiian Electric Industries (HEI) is a holding company that owns several utilities in Hawaii. The company was incorporated on October 13, 1891, and began operating under a single name with its subsidiaries MECO and HELCO—Hawaiian Electric—on December 24, 2019. Shelee Kimura is the president and chief executive officer of Hawaiian Electric, which serves 95% of Hawaii’s population on the islands of Oahu, Hawaii, Maui, Lanai and Molokai and is committed to serving communities with safe, affordable, reliable clean energy.

In 1968, HECO purchased Maui Electric Company, and in 1970, HECO acquired the Hawaii Island's Hilo Electric Light Company. In 1988, MECO acquired the Lāna‘i City power plant on the island of Lānaʻi, and in 1989, Molokai Electric Company on the island of Molokaʻi. Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. (HEI) was created as a holding company for these various utilities in 1983. In 2013, HECO began working with Siemens to develop a self-healing grid in eastern Oʻahu and Waikīkī to ensure a reliable electrical supply. On December 4, 2014, NextEra Energy tendered an offer to purchase HEI for $4.3 billion (equivalent to $5.45 billion in 2023).

During World War II, HECO power plants linked to military bases, generating more than one million kilowatt hours of electricity each day. In 1914, HECO had started rural service to the windward side of the island and was marketing electric products like refrigerators and flat irons. In 1937, HECO broke ground on its second power plant, and transmission lines soon crisscrossed Oahu. On August 8, 2023, brush fires ignited on various parts of Maui. Fires in Lahaina and Upcountry caused widespread damage to populated areas, and the Lahaina fire was responsible for at least 102 deaths and an estimated $5.5 billion in damage. Power lines owned by Hawaiian Electric were blown down and over 12,000 people on Maui were left without power. Investigations are currently underway to officially determine what caused the fire, and they are currently looking into whether downed power lines and decisions by Hawaiian Electric were the cause of the deadly wildfires.

Presidency of Shelee Kimura

Shelee Kimura is the president and CEO of Hawaiian Electric, which serves 95% of Hawaii's population on the islands of Oahu, Hawaii, Maui, Lanai and Molokai. Shelee was appointed to her current role in January 2022 and previously served as senior vice president of Customer Service & Public Affairs and senior vice president of Business Development & Strategic Planning. She provided leadership for the company's customer care initiatives through the COVID-19 pandemic and economic downturn, making equity and access a top priority while improving customer satisfaction and stakeholder engagement.

Kimura's presidency has been marked by a focus on energy and renewables through the company's subsidiary Pacific Current, LLC. In 2013, HECO began working with Siemens to develop a self-healing grid in eastern O'ahu and Waikīkī to ensure a reliable electrical supply.

In 2014, NextEra Energy tendered an offer to purchase HEI for $4.3 billion (equivalent to $5.45 billion in 2023).

On August 8, 2023, brush fires ignited on various parts of Maui. The fires in Lahaina and Upcountry caused widespread damage to populated areas, and the Lahaina fire was responsible for at least 102 deaths and an estimated $5.5 billion in damage. Power lines owned by Hawaiian Electric were blown down and over 12,000 people on Maui were left without power.

Shelee Kimura's presidency has been marked by a focus on energy and renewables through the company's subsidiary Pacific Current, LLC.

Acquisitions of Maui and Hawaii Electric Companies

Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. (HEI) was created as a holding company for various utilities in 1983. HECO purchased Maui Electric Company in 1968 and Hilo Electric Light Company on Hawaii Island in 1970. In 1988, MECO acquired the Lāna‘i City power plant on the island of Lānaʻi, and in 1989, Molokai Electric Company on the island of Molokaʻi. HECO began working with Siemens to develop a self-healing grid in eastern Oʻahu and Waikīkī to ensure a reliable electrical supply in 2013. On December 4, 2014, NextEra Energy tendered an offer to purchase HEI for $4.3 billion (equivalent to $5.45 billion in 2023).

On December 24, 2019, HECO announced that it would begin operating under a single name with its subsidiaries MECO and HELCO—Hawaiian Electric. Shelee Kimura is the president and chief executive officer of Hawaiian Electric, which serves 95% of Hawaii’s population on the islands of Oahu, Hawaii, Maui, Lanai and Molokai and is committed to serving communities with safe, affordable, reliable clean energy. Shelee was appointed to her current role in January 2022 and previously served as senior vice president of Customer Service & Public Affairs and senior vice president of Business Development & Strategic Planning. During the COVID-19 pandemic and economic downturn, she provided leadership for the company’s customer care initiatives, making equity and access a top priority while improving customer satisfaction and stakeholder engagement.

On August 8, 2023, brush fires ignited on various parts of Maui. Fires in Lahaina and Upcountry caused widespread damage to populated areas, and the Lahaina fire was responsible for at least 102 deaths and an estimated $5.5 billion in damage. Power lines owned by Hawaiian Electric were blown down and over 12,000 people on Maui were left without power. Investigations are currently underway to officially determine what caused the fire, and they are currently looking into whether downed power lines and decisions by Hawaiian Electric were the cause of the deadly wildfires.

Reliable electricity supply in Oahu

Hawaiian Electric Industries (HECO) is the largest electric utility in Hawaii, serving 95% of the state's population on the islands of Oahu, Hawaii, Maui, Lānaʻi and Molokai. The company operates under a single name with its subsidiaries Maui Electric Company (MECO) and Hilo Electric Light Company (HELCO).

HECO is committed to serving communities with safe, affordable, reliable clean energy. The company began working with Siemens in 2013 to develop a self-healing grid in eastern Oahu and Waikīkī to ensure a reliable electrical supply.

On December 24, 2019, HECO announced that it would begin operating under a single name with its subsidiaries MECO and HELCO—Hawaiian Electric. On August 8, 2023, brush fires ignited on various parts of Maui. The fires in Lahaina and Upcountry caused widespread damage to populated areas, and the Lahaina fire was responsible for at least 102 deaths and an estimated $5.5 billion in damage. Power lines owned by Hawaiian Electric were blown down and over 12,000 people on Maui were left without power.

Shelee Kimura is the president and chief executive officer of Hawaiian Electric, which serves 95% of Hawaii’s population on the islands of Oahu, Hawaii, Maui, Lanai and Molokai. Shelee was appointed to her current role in January 2022 and previously served as senior vice president of Customer Service & Public Affairs and senior vice president of Business Development & Strategic Planning.

Hawaiian Electric Company was incorporated on October 13, 1891. Within about 16 years, the utility had 2,500 customers on Oahu. By 1914, HECO had started rural service to the windward side of the island and was marketing electric products like refrigerators and flat irons. In 1937, HECO broke ground on its second power plant, and transmission lines soon crisscrossed Oahu. During World War II, HECO power plants linked to military bases, generating more than one million kilowatt hours of electricity each day.

Brush fires on Maui and damage caused by power lines

Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. (HEI) is the parent company of Hawaiian Electric (HECO), which owns power lines on Maui. HECO purchased Maui Electric Company in 1968 and acquired the Lāna‘i City power plant on the island of Lānaʻi in 1988. In 1989, HECO also acquired the Molokai Electric Company on the island of Molokaʻi. HECO began operating under a single name with its subsidiaries MECO and HELCO—Hawaiian Electric—on December 24, 2019.

On August 8, 2023, brush fires ignited on various parts of Maui. Fires in Lahaina and Upcountry caused widespread damage to populated areas, and the Lahaina fire was responsible for at least 102 deaths and an estimated $5.5 billion in damage. Power lines owned by HECO were blown down, and over 12,000 people on Maui were left without power. Investigations are currently underway to officially determine what caused the fire, and they are currently looking into whether downed power lines and decisions by HECO were the cause of the deadly wildfires.

HECO began working with Siemens to develop a self-healing grid in eastern Oʻahu and Waikīkī to ensure a reliable electrical supply in 2013. On December 4, 2014, NextEra Energy tendered an offer to purchase HEI for $4.3 billion (equivalent to $5.45 billion in 2023).

Hawaiian Electric serves 95% of Hawaii’s population on the islands of Oahu, Hawaii, Maui, Lanai and Molokai and is committed to serving communities with safe, affordable, reliable clean energy. Shelee Kimura is the president and chief executive officer of Hawaiian Electric, who was appointed to her current role in January 2022. She previously served as senior vice president of Customer Service & Public Affairs and senior vice president of Business Development & Strategic Planning. Kimura provided leadership for the company’s customer care initiatives through the COVID-19 pandemic and economic downturn, making equity and access a top priority while improving customer satisfaction and stakeholder engagement.

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