VIDEO: Mayor Powers Up at New Honokawai Charging Station

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Mayor Arakawa charges up a Nissan Leaf at the new electric vehicle charging station at AAAAA Rent-A-Space in Honokowai. Courtesy of Gilbert & Assoc.

By Sonia Isotov

AAAAA Rent-A-Space a storage facility and commercial center in Honokowai, today announced its “Level 2” electric vehicle charging station is operational and available for public use 24-hours a day, seven days a week.

The west Maui facility welcomed County of Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa as the first to use the charging station, where he powered up a Nissan Leaf owned by Shaun Stenshol, owner of BioBeetle Rental Cars and a member of the Maui Electric Vehicle Alliance.

“As electric vehicle chargers become more available across the island, electric vehicles become more appealing as an alternative to gasoline powered cars,” said Arakawa. “We are pleased that island residents and visitors will have more choices due to the opening of this EV charging station.”

The charging station is a component of a recently installed 600-kilowatt photovoltaic system, the largest commercial photovoltaic power generation system operating in Maui County.

In addition to powering AAAAA Rent-A-Space and Retail Center, the system contributes to the state’s “feed-in tariff” program, with the capacity to feed 2880 kilowatt-hours into the island’s electrical grid each day, enough clean, renewable energy to power up to 220 Maui homes.

“The installation of this charging station further demonstrates our dedication to embracing clean energy solutions and doing business in a manner that nurtures our island home,” said Jim Knuppe, the owner and founder of AAAAA Rent-A-Space.

Electric vehicle charging station at AAAAA Rent-A-Space. Courtesy of Gilbert & Assoc.