About Us

DID YOU KNOW THAT 50% of Molokai’s energy needs is up for grabs. Our community deserves the opportunity to chart its own course by owning a meaningful stake in its clean energy future. 

Who will have control over the next 20 years of energy on Molokai is being decided RIGHT NOW. 

What is Hoʻāhu Energy Coop about?

• 50% of Molokai’s energy needs is up for grabs. Our community deserves the opportunity to chart its own course by owning a meaningful stake in its clean energy future. 
• Who will have control over the next 20 years of energy on Molokai is being decided right now.

• Mission: Hoʻāhu Energy’s mission is to produce community-owned, affordable, renewable energy for the benefit of our members, the community, and environment.
• Vision: Hoʻāhu Energy’s vision is resilient, sustainable, equitable, culturally conscious energy for all.
• Hoʻāhu Energy is grounded in the belief that natural energy sources should benefit the communities who steward and care for these vital resources.
• Hoʻāhu Energy is a grassroots, community-led organization made up of, and led by, local Molokai volunteers who are our friends and neighbors. We depend on community input and participation. 
• Hoʻāhu Energy is a community owned and managed energy cooperative whose profits are shared with its subscribers and vested toward community ownership of its projects. 
• Through outreach and input from our community, through partnerships with energy professionals and supporting organizations, and with guidance and support from county and state leaders, Hoʻāhu Energy is planning to build a number of renewable energy projects on behalf of, and in support of its community. 
• Hoʻāhu Energy’s goal is 100% local hiring and we are spearheading a workforce development program with hands-on training in general construction, installation and maintenance of renewable energy systems. 

CBRE

• Hawaii Electric (HECO) has announced its plans to release two large renewable energy projects up for bid. If successful, the projects would be Molokai’s first large scale renewable energy project that will serve about 50% of the island’s energy demands. 
• The Public Utilities Commission (PUC), which safeguards the public interest, has mandated the project be open to bid as a Community Based Renewable Energy (CBRE) project.
• CBREs are meant to financially benefit rate payers by crediting a portion of the project’s proceeds back to ratepayers. 
• Hoʻāhu Energy is a volunteer working group of Molokai community members who are passionate about energy and believe in sharing leadership and decision-making through transparency and inclusion.
• Hoʻāhu Energy has partnered with two progressive, community-oriented energy developers, Shake Energy Collaborative and Mana Pacific, for the purpose of bidding, winning, and installing HECO’s CBRE project with the help and input of the Molokai community. 
• Hoʻāhu Energy is a Cooperative that will be open to all ratepayers who do not or cannot take advantage of rooftop solar. We intend to focus on renters, homesteaders, small businesses and hope to benefit a majority of the island’s rate payers.

• 100% Local hiring policy: we are aiming for 100% of the installation, ongoing maintenance of this and future projects, as well as management of Hoʻāhu Energy, to be performed by Molokai residents.
  • Local ownership means that the decision-making and the revenue from the project stay on-island with the Cooperative and its members.
  • By owning the project locally, profits get returned to Cooperative members rather than to off-island investors
• Energy justice means that our relationship with energy is inclusive and complementary to a healthy community and environment.