Empowering Hawai‘i Through Clean, Community-Led Geothermal Energy
About P4p
POWER FOR THE PEOPLE
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.
SURVEY
YOUR INPUT MATTERS
We’d love to hear your thoughts! This quick survey helps us understand how familiar people are with geothermal energy as a renewable source of electricity in Hawaiʻi. Your input will support efforts to inform and engage the community about sustainable energy solutions. It only takes a minute—thank you for participating!
Geothermal energy harnesses heat from beneath the Earth’s surface to generate electricity, offering a clean and consistent power source. In Hawaiʻi, where renewable energy is key to reducing dependence on imported fuels, geothermal holds significant potential. By sharing your level of awareness, you help guide future outreach and education efforts around this important resource.
GEOTHERMAL AS A PUBLIC TRUST RESOURCE
Geothermal, like other natural resources in Hawai‘i, is governed by the public land trust, established by the Hawai‘i Admission Act of 1959. This trust mandates that the State develop these resources for the betterment of Native Hawaiians and the general public. Given Hawai‘i’s high electricity costs, prioritizing geothermal development as a public trust resource can provide much-needed relief to residents and businesses while reducing dependence on costly imported fuels.
To fulfill the public trust’s obligations to Native Hawaiians, it is crucial to involve Native Hawaiians in the management of geothermal energy, ensuring that energy development aligns with cultural values, economic equity, and self-sufficiency.
HAWAIIAN CULTURAL APPROACH
Honoring Pele, Protecting Cultural Integrity, and Strengthening Hawai‘i’s Future
Geothermal energy is a sacred resource in Hawai‘i, and its development must be approached with cultural sensitivity and respect for Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK). Pele, the goddess of fire and creation, is deeply revered, and any geothermal development must honor her legacy and the Native Hawaiian families who descend from her.
Waikā has spent over a decade engaging with impacted communities to ensure that Native Hawaiians lead in the responsible development of this sacred resource. Our approach is rooted in cultural integrity, environmental responsibility, and economic equity – ensuring that Hawai‘i’s energy transition strengthens our resilience, honors our kūpuna, and builds a sustainable future for all.
GUIDING PRINCIPLES
KŪKULU KANAKA E ALAKAʻI IĀ
HAWAIʻI
Organizing Hawai’i to lead Hawai’i
KŪKULU KUMUHANA NO KE EA O KA LĀHUI
Establishing purpose towards energy and economic sovereignty
KŪKULU KAIĀULU NO KA PONO O KĒIA MUA AKU
Building community options for a brighter future.
HOʻOMALU IĀ HAWAIʻI
Governance
PILINA IĀ HAWAIʻI
Stewardship / Relationship
ʻAUAMO KULEANA
Shouldering Responsibility
ALAKAʻINA
Leadership
SUSTAINABLE APPROACH TO DEVELOPMENT
About Consulting
WAIKĀ CONSULTING
Waikā’s team has successfully implemented the Native to Native 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.
