Hawaiʻi Gas celebrates 120 years in Hawai‘i

Hawaiʻi Gas, the state’s only regulated gas utility, will mark its 120th anniversary on Aug. 1, 2024, commemorating 12 decades of dedicated service to the people and businesses of Hawai‘i. 

The company was founded in 1904 as the Honolulu Gas Company, Ltd. by kamaʻāina businessman William W. Dimond. It began delivering gas in 1905 from a production plant in Iwilei that was one of the first of its kind in the world.

‘The plant’s initial transmission of gas was distributed through pipelines servicing downtown Honolulu and homes in Nu’uanu, followed by neighborhoods in Mānoa, Kalihi Valley, Kaimuki, and Waikiki — which had just two hotels at the time.

Over the decades, the company continued to grow as communities on Oʻahu and neighbor islands expanded. Now known as Hawai‘i Gas, the company provides safe, reliable energy to 70,000 residential and commercial customers across all major Hawaiian islands. The company continues to evolve as the state’s energy landscape evolves, with a focus on clean and renewable energy solutions while ensuring reliability, affordability, and excellent service for its customers.   

“Since the beginning, we’ve worked hard to deliver reliable, affordable energy solutions for Hawai‘i,” said Alicia Moy, president and CEO of Hawaiʻi Gas. “The generations of incredibly dedicated, skilled people has been the driving force behind the company’s success and longevity. Their collective commitment to the people we serve, kuleana to environmental stewardship, and ongoing pursuit of innovation have shaped the company into what it is today. It’s an honor for me to continue leading Hawaiʻi Gas into the next 120 years, and being able to support our team today as we chart a course focused on sustainability and energy resiliency for communities.”

“I’ve witnessed firsthand the incredible growth of Hawai‘i Gas over the past 50 years,” said Engineering Office Coordinator Karen Shinagawa, who is currently the longest serving employee at Hawaiʻi Gas. “Celebrating 120 years is not just a milestone for the company, but it’s a testament to the dedication and hard work of the people who contributed to that success. I have been proud to be part of the team at Hawai’i Gas, and to continue our legacy of delivering good energy to our communities.”

120 Stories for 120 Years project

Hawai‘i Gas has launched the 120 Stories for 120 Years project, and is collecting stories and memories from the community about the company, its people and happenings from decades past. Current and former employees, customers, business and community partners, and anyone with a story or memory are encouraged to participate. Stories will be compiled and used to preserve and celebrate the company’s history. To submit a memory, visit hawaiigas.com/history.