Three Maui Community Organizations Gifted with Electric Vehicles

Maui Electric Company and the Hawaiian Electric Industries Charitable Foundation presented Smart electric vehicles to the University of Hawai‘i Maui College, Boys & Girls Clubs of Maui, and Maui Hui Malama during its Go EV event on Saturday, Nov. 19.

The donated “Smart ForTwo” cars are valued at over $10,000 each and come equipped with electric charging equipment. Each community organization also received an additional $1,500 to help pay for expenses relating to maintaining or servicing the EVs.

The donated SmartForTwo electric vehicles are lightly-used cars with an average mileage of 4,000 miles. The organizations will be using them in a variety of ways, including promoting clean air for a healthier state, connecting at-risk youth to caring mentors, and traveling to related community meetings and activities.

The cars were presented to Pearson; Pualani Enos, Maui Hui Mālama executive director; and Dr. Lui Hokoana, UH Maui College chancellor today by Maui Electric President Sharon Suzuki and HEI manager of Corporate and Community Advancement AJ Halagao. The presentation was part of Maui Electric’s Go EV event, which gave attendees the opportunity to learn more about the benefits of this green mode of transportation.

“It gives us great pleasure to present the EVs to these deserving organizations and their teams who work hard every day to make Maui County a better place for the people and families who call this place home,” said Suzuki. “This year, we celebrate our 95th anniversary of being part of the Maui, Moloka‘i and Lāna‘i communities. We look forward to continuing our service to you as we move towards a cleaner and more sustainable future.”

“On behalf of the 9,000 youth we at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Maui serve through club and outreach programs, I would like to thank the HEI Charitable Foundation and Maui Electric for this generous donation,” said BGCM Chief Executive Officer Kelly Pearson. “I constantly say that it takes a village to raise a child and it is through generous investments such as this, that our village grows so that we can reach and serve more of Maui’s youth. At the Boys & Girls Clubs of Maui, we love our Maui Electric partnership. Thank you, Maui Electric, for investing in our future!”

HEI worked with Mercedes-Benz of Honolulu, who inspected, registered, and ensured delivery of the EVs to the nonprofit organizations.

“The HEI Charitable Foundation is proud to partner with Maui Electric to support and recognize the amazing work of these organizations while promoting the use of electric vehicles,” said Connie Lau, HEI president and CEO and chairman of the HEI Charitable Foundation. “At HEI, we strive to be a catalyst for our communities and work towards a better Hawai‘i.”

Boys and Girls Clubs of Maui. Maui Electric EV Donation.

Maui Electric and HEI Smart Car Donation.

Maui Hui Malama, Maui Electric Vehicle Donation.

UHMC Maui Electric Vehicle Donation.