FAQs

The Kīlauea East Rift Zone is the only region developed for geothermal energyin Hawai‘i, and has all the attributes necessary for energy generation,according to the Hawai‘i State Energy Office. Geothermal development inHawai‘i started in the 1970s, when the University of Hawai‘i drilled an experimental well (HGP-A) in the Kīlauea East Rift Zone in 1976 that grew into a small-scale power plant in the 1980s. Since 1993, Puna Geothermal Venture (PGV) has operated Hawai‘i’s only geothermal power plant nearby with a 38 MW contract capacity, although its production was temporarily interrupted following the 2018 eruption of Kīlauea. Production resumed after safeguards were put in place. Geothermal technology continues to advance, making it safe and reliable. 

Geothermal energy is common around volcanic activity and tectonic plates in the Pacific,where hot magma is found near the earth’s surface. U.S. geothermal power plants aremostly located in the West and Hawai‘i. According to a 2021 report by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), California and Nevada contribute more than 90% of U.S. geothermal power generation, with additional contributions from plants in Alaska, Hawai‘i, Idaho, New Mexico, Oregon, and Utah. 

In Hawai‘i, geothermal energy is an indigenous resource owned by the public and Native Hawaiians. 

Geothermal power is a firm, reliable source of naturally occurring energy. With low emissions, geothermal power reduces Hawai‘i’s reliance on imported fossil fuels. Geothermal development can support Native Hawaiian communities, enhance local economic opportunities, and lower energy costs. Geothermal energy can also be used to produce hydrogen, which has uses in a variety of key industries. 

Unlike intermittent renewable sources of energy that are subject to weather conditions and other variables, geothermal power is available consistently, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, all year around, making it a firm, reliable and costeffective, locally available baseload power source that can replace fossil fuel and stabilize the grid. 

Geothermal power serves as an economic engine for community and small business development. With billions of dollars leaving Hawai‘i every year to pay for imported fossil fuels, geothermal is a safe, lower cost firm power baseload. The state’s vast and valuable renewable energy resources will ensure that more of that money stays in our communities. Additional economic activity, jobs, and fair and reasonable costs for energy will make life more affordable for Hawai‘i families. 

Oil and coal imports make up over 80% of all energy used in Hawai‘i forelectricity and transportation, according to Hawaiian Electric – this accountsfor the state ranking the highest in the U.S. for its average electricity pricesand energy insecurity. In 2024, the percentage of Hawaiian Electric generationfrom renewable energy was 30.8% onO‘ahu, 41.1% on Maui, and 58.7% on Hawai‘iIsland. Geothermal accounted for just 19.1% of the total system generation mixon Hawai‘i Island. 

Geothermal power plants have low emission levels. Geothermal power plantsemit 97% less acid rain-causing sulfurcompounds and about 99% less carbondioxide than the equivalent firm, baseload fossil fuel power plants of similarsize, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Geothermal plants reinject most of the geothermal steam and water that theyuse back into the earth – this varies depending on which technology is chosen,helping renew the geothermal resource and reduce emissions. In additionscrubbers and other technology at geothermal power plants help removehydrogen sulfide that occurs naturally in geothermal reservoirs and manageother non-condensable gases. Due to the highly centralized nature ofgeothermal resource development, the environmental impact of plants can bereduced to an acceptable level, according to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. 

According to USGS, 99% of the gas molecules emitted during a volcaniceruption are water vapor, carbon dioxide, and sulfur dioxide. Hydrogen sulfideand hydrogen halides can also be emitted from volcanoes. 

The Kīlauea East Rift Zone is the only region developed for geothermal energyin Hawai‘i, and has all the attributes necessary for energy generation,according to the Hawai‘i State Energy Office. Geothermal development inHawai‘i started in the 1970s, when the University of Hawai‘i drilled an experimental well (HGP-A) in the Kīlauea East Rift Zone in 1976 that grew into a small-scale power plant in the 1980s. Since 1993, Puna Geothermal Venture (PGV) has operated Hawai‘i’s only geothermal power plant nearby with a 38 MW contract capacity, although its production was temporarily interrupted following the 2018 eruption of Kīlauea. Production resumed after safeguards were put in place. Geothermal technology continues to advance, making it safe and reliable. 

Hawai‘i is committed to achieving the nation’s first-ever 100% Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) under the Hawai‘i Clean Energy Initiative (HCEI) by the year 2045 (2035 for neighbor island communities). We must continue to replace oil and coal imports with a diverse mix of renewable energy sources such as wind and ocean energy, solar, biofuels, and geothermal power to reduce our energy vulnerability and make the islands more resilient. 

Power For the People is a movement to create sustainable systems for renewable energy generation, with Native Hawaiians leading the development of their land and natural resources. This initiative is led by Waikā Consulting, LLC, a company formed by Innovations Development Group (IDG), a Hawai‘i-based and Native Hawaiian-owned renewable energy development company established in 1998 with proven global experience.

Waikā understands the importance of Tūtū Pele as an ancestor and ʻAumakua, and an important deity revered by Native Hawaiians. We are deeply grateful for the makana, a gift, she has left her people and will be mindful as they draw on her mana, power to deliver affordable energy for homes and businesses. Power For the people is a campaign that is based on responsible stewardship of Tūtū Pele’s gift to improve the well-being of the community while remaining respectful of cultural tradition. 

Waikā’s Native to Native (N2N) Business Development Model aims to prioritize and empower Indigenous communities in Hawai‘i and the Pacific, helping them manage their own resources in their own way, guided by their own values. Based on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, N2N brings native land and resource owners together with equitable development opportunities in culturally and environmentally appropriate ways, with the goal of sustainability, resilience and long-term economic growth and prosperity.

Waikā’s team has successfully implemented the N2N model in New Zealand (Aotearoa) at the invitation of the late Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu (Māori Queen from 1966-2006) in 2000 to help develop the geothermal resources of the Māori Trusts.

Building close working relationships with top-tier experts at the University of Auckland Geosciences Department, Waikā and IDG have been involved with several geothermal projects throughout the planning, consultation and development phases. One plant is already operational (Te Ahi O Maui), and another is under development(Taheke 8C).

Each project exemplifies the power of the N2N approach: low environmental impact, cultural protections and long-term benefits to host communities. In addition to strong relationships between the Native Hawaiian and Māori peoples and deeply shared cultural values, New Zealand provides an ideal model – it is also an island nation, has more than 1,000 MW of geothermal in operation, with over 300 MW more under development, resulting in some of the lowest energy costs in the world.