JUMPSmartMaui Celebrates One-Year Anniversary

A blessing ceremony was held for the new EV charger stations located at the Kalana O Maui Building in Wailuku. Pictured from left: Dr. Hiroshi Kuniyoshi, executive director of NEDO; Mayor Alan Arakawa; and Takenori Haranaka, general manager of Hitachi’s Energy Solution Systems Division. Photo courtesy Linn Nishikawa.

By Maui Now Staff

Mayor Alan Arakawa, NEDO Executive Director Dr. Hiroshi Kuniyoshi and Takenori Haranaka, general manager of Hitachi Ltd.’s Energy Solution Systems Division, participated in a blessing ceremony on Wednesday, Dec. 17, marking the first anniversary of the JUMPSmartMaui project. The ceremony was led by Kahu Sandy Baz.

Nearly 40 project stakeholders and business community representatives attended the blessing of the two DC Fast Chargers and one Level 2 charger located in the County of Maui building parking lot.

Exactly one year ago, a launching ceremony was held for this important island grid project between Japan and the US. On that occasion, Gov. Neil Abercrombie proclaimed that day to be JUMPSmart Maui Day in the State of Hawai‘i.

This demonstration project continues to make an impact on Maui’s and the state’s clean energy future. The project’s goal is to help improve integration of renewable energy resources into Maui’s electrical grid and to prepare the island’s electric system for efficient adoption of all-electric vehicles.

“Since the launch of the project a year ago, people from all over the world have paid a lot of attention to our activities here in Maui,” said Dr. Kuniyoshi. “Many delegations from the US Mainland, Japan, and other countries such as India, Korea, Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Fiji have come to see our project site. I am proud that we are leading the way, showing how we can sustainably live on the earth.”

For more information, visit the JUMPSmartMaui website, email info@JUMPSmartMaui.com, or call Maui Economic Development Board at (808) 875-2300.