“Pilina” theme guided employees, retirees, IBEW members to unite efforts
A year-long workplace campaign led by Hawaiian Electric
employees resulted in raising more than $316,000 for Aloha United Way, the nonprofit working
to advance the health, education and financial stability of the Hawaiʻi community. Guided by the
campaign theme Pilina, the Hawaiian meaning “to come together,” employees united with
retirees and IBEW Local 1260 to amplify their fundraising efforts.
Among the popular fundraisers included a cookbook aptly named Pilina featuring recipes from
employees across the company, sales of Hawaiian Electric logo merchandise, a collaboration
with local luxury fashion designer Manaola Yap on his latest collection of vegan tote bags, and
an online pledge drive.
Together with a workplace campaign at its Hawaiʻi Island operations to benefit Hawaiʻi Island
United Way, sponsor donations to Maui recovery efforts in place of the annual Oʻahu golf
tournament and direct donations to Maui County nonprofit organizations, Hawaiian Electric
employees from Oʻahu, Maui County and Hawaiʻi Island raised in total more than $372,000 for
the community last year.
In addition, company employees across its five-island service areas volunteered 5,307 hours
over 101 community events; donated 913 units of blood/apheresis; and collected $4,076 and
1,717 pounds of food for local food banks during 2023.
Hawaiian Electric serves 95 percent of Hawaiʻi’s 1.4 million residents on the islands of Oʻahu,
Maui, Hawaiʻi, Lānaʻi and Molokaʻi. Established in 1891, Hawaiian Electric is committed to
empowering its customers and communities by providing affordable, reliable, clean and
sustainable energy.
Photo courtesy of Hawaiian Electric
