MyPearlCity.com is very honored to recognize Hawaiian Electric as our PC Heart & Soul selection for their contributions to our Pearl City community as well as communities across Oahu.
Last year, Hawaiian Electric donated over $755,000 in corporate contributions to non-profit and community organizations across Oʻahu. Hawaiian Electric ended 2015 with the title sponsorship for the 2015-2016 VEX State High School Robotics Championships held at at Pearl City High School.
In January 2016, Hawaiian Electric also served as the title sponsor for the VEX State Middle School Robotics Championships held at Stevenson Middle School. Both the Pearl City High School robotics team and the Highlands Intermediate robotics team captured state titles that also advanced them to national competitions on the mainland at the end of the school year.
Kaiulani de Silva, Manager, Hawaiian Electric Education and Consumer Affairs, commented on the success of Hawaiian Electric’s sponsorship of the state robotics competition and how important it is to the S.T.E.M. program in our schools and building technology for the future.
"This is a tribute to the kids, to the teachers, the school and the whole support system, the families of all the kids and teams," said de Silva. "Actually, these are our future employees. These are the engineers and the communicators and the planners, and all the people who are going to be a part of our company. Some of our engineers are here and volunteering as judges, as referees, as everything. We feel very much that this is an important part of our community and of S.T.E.M. and building that technology base for our islands."
Most recently, Hawaiian Electric volunteers reached out to help plant a playground at Pearl City Highlands Elementary School. On Saturday, February 6, 108 Hawaiian Electric employees led by Hawaiian Electric President and CEO, Alan M. Oshima, partnered with Hawaii 3R's to plant a new playground on the school grounds. Volunteers cut and planted sod over a 5000 square foot area to create a grassy playground for the PEACHES students to play on within a few months. Besides a dedicated core of employees/community volunteers, Hawaiian Electric also provided funds in support of landscaping work and an irrigation system at the school.
“We love to give back to the community,” said Mr. Oshima. “Our employees give so generously with their time and money. We’re really, really proud of our employees, but our corporate culture is to give back to the community as well. Over 108 volunteers from Hawaiian Electric volunteered with this project. We actually have sign ups and not everybody can come. That’s how great our employee base is. We’ve given thousands of hours of volunteer help. This really fits well with Hawaii 3R’s because Hawaii 3R’s was formed to bring the communities back into the schools, not just do handouts. Every project that we do has to have about a fifty-percent sweat equity component and that saves the state money. But it also gets a connection with the community and the schools and that’s a more sustainability relationship. So, over the years we’ve saved the state over 40 million dollars by doing it that way. But more importantly, the 3R’s initiative is to connect the parents, teachers, faculty, and the community with the school itself and to take pride in our schools.”
“We are lucky enough to partner with the Hawaii 3R’s program and HECO,” said Michael Nakasato, Principal, Pearl City Highlands Elementary School. “Over the last three years as the school got really big, the area turned into a parking lot and the grass died. Having HECO put in the grass is something we never could have done.”
Mahalo to Hawaiian Electric for their dedication and commitment to bettering the lives of our residents through their financial support and the thousands of volunteer manpower hours that are put into the community by Hawaiian Electric employees and management. Their efforts truly contribute to the positive growth of our Oahu communities that is perpetuated by the Heart & Soul of Hawaiian Electric’s corporate culture of giving back to the community.
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Members from Pearl City High School's 2015-2016 VEX State High School Robotics
Championship Team are pictured behind their EXCELLENCE AWARD with (L-R) Colten Ching,
Hawaiian Electric Vice-President of Energy Delivery, Pearl City High School Robotics Team
Advisor Mr. Hai Nguyen, and Darcy Endo-Omoto, Hawaiian Electric Vice-President of
Government & Community Affairs
Photo credit: Sean Moura, Hawaiian Electric
(Pictured) Darcy Endo-Omoto, Hawaiian Electric Vice-President of Government
and Community Affairs (left) and Julie Segawa, VEX organizer and robotics advisor
at Stevenson Middle School (right) with Highlands Intermediate School Team 394
(L to R: Michaela Sy, Royce Shioi, Alexander Meneses and Brayden Tanji).
The Highlands Intermediate VEX state champions are also proudly pictured with their
Excellence Award banner, the highest award presented in the VEX robotics competition.
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Hawaiian Electric employees get to work separating sod to be planted
in the new Pearl City Highlands Elementary School playground.
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Hawaiian Electric President and CEO, Alan M. Oshima is
pictured planting sod on the perimeter of the new playground.
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
This is what it's all about!
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Mahalo Hawaiian Electric Ohana!
Related links to stories and photo galleries posted on MyPearlCity.com
Hawaiian Electric gives back to the community
http://www.mypearlcity.com/story/community/hawaiian-electric-gives-back-community
Pearl City High School Robotics Champions receive Honorary Certificate from City Council
Hawaiian Electric volunteers plant a playground at Pearl City Highlands Elementary
Photo Gallery:
Highlands Intermediate School sweeps VEX State Middle School Robotics Championship
Pearl City Public Library receives share of $18,000 Hawaiian Electric contribution
Hawaiian Electric supports "The Tiny Tree" at Aiea Public Library
http://www.mypearlcity.com/story/community/hawaiian-electric-supports-tiny-tree-aiea-public-library
Girl Scouts program to expand with donation from Hawaiian Electric
http://www.mypearlcity.com/story/community/girl-scouts-program-expand-donation-hawaiian-electric