Hawaii
Garrison Hawai’i and HECO, Showcase Energy Security and Sustainability
Commander, U.S. Army Garrison Hawaii, Col. Rachel Sullivan and KHON Host of Empowered Hawai’i, Jeff Mikulina, talk story about the Schofield Generating Station.
The hosts of Empowered Hawaii on KHON2, a monthly TV series on sustainability issues, approached U.S. Army Garrison Hawai’i, to feature a portion of the show on the Schofield Generating Station. The monthly TV series features positive stories of progress toward Hawai’i’s sustainable future. Their next episode will be featuring and exploring the role of biofuels as Hawaii moves toward 100% renewable energy. U.S. Army photo by Selina Gentkowski
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KHON Hosts for Empowered Hawaii, Kelly Simek and Jeff Mikulina, Mike DiCaprio – Hawaiian Electric, Vice President Power Supply. U.S. Army photo by Selina Gentkowski
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Pictured Below:
KHON Hosts for Empowered Hawaii, Kelly Simek and Jeff Mikulina, Keith Yamanaka – U.S. Army Garrison Hawaii, Energy Branch Chief. U.S. Army photo by Selina Gentkowski
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Videographers, Film Crew for KHON, Alan Yonan – Corporate Communications/Hawaiian Electric, Keith Yamanaka – Energy Branch Chief, KHON Hosts Jeff Mikulina and Kelly Simek, Mike DiCaprio – Hawaiian Electric Vice President Power Supply. U.S. Army photo by Selina Gentkowski
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SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, Hawai’i — In a show of unified commitment to energy security and sustainable practices, U.S. Army Garrison Hawai’i and Hawaiian Electric (HECO) joined forces to highlight the capabilities of the Schofield Generating Station (SGS). Featured on KHON2’s “Empowered Hawai’i” series, this collaboration underscores the Army’s readiness to support Hawai’i’s renewable energy goals and wide community resilience.
Col. Rachel Sullivan, commander of U.S. Army Garrison Hawai’i, Keith Yamanaka, chief of the Energy Branch for U.S. Army Garrison Hawai’i, and Mike DiCaprio, Hawaiian Electric’s vice president of Power Supply, met with “Empowered Hawai’i” hosts to discuss the 50-megawatt facility’s critical role in powering O’ahu in emergencies, utilizing sustainable biofuels (cooking oil), and reinforcing the island’s energy grid stability. The episode, scheduled to air on Nov. 26, will bring public awareness to the unique attributes of SGS and its contributions toward Hawai’i’s renewable energy vision.
“Schofield Generating Station is a unique facility, not only because of its capacity to support Schofield Barracks, Wheeler Army Airfield, and Field Station Kunia in emergencies but also because it represents a strategic partnership with Hawaiian Electric that leverages renewable energy to strengthen resilience for both the military and the local community,” said Col. Sullivan.
The facility, located on military grounds at Schofield Barracks and safeguarded from coastal threats, can generate electricity for up to seven days on its fuel supply and as long as 30 days with on-island resources. Additionally, SGS plays a crucial role in stabilizing the island’s power grid, stepping in during periods of low solar and wind production to prevent rolling blackouts and aiding recovery after outages.
Keith Yamanaka highlighted SGS’s importance, noting, “Our collaboration with Hawaiian Electric enables us to literally jumpstart other power plants on Oahu and potentially support up to 16 Army installations on O’ahu. This partnership truly amplifies our resilience capabilities, allowing us to be prepared for any crisis while supporting Hawai’i’s clean energy mission.”
Hawai‘i has set ambitious renewable energy goals under the Hawai‘i Clean Energy Initiative, aiming for 100% renewable energy in the electricity sector by 2045. SGS remains at the forefront, representing the Army’s dedication to renewable initiatives that safeguard the environment and community. With its renewable biofuel capabilities, SGS is prepared to operate independently of the grid during natural or man-made emergencies, ensuring that the Army can fulfill its mission and support O’ahu if requested.
In response to the Army’s commitment to clean energy, Mike DiCaprio, Vice President of Power Supply at Hawaiian Electric, added, “This partnership with the U.S. Army demonstrates our shared vision for a sustainable future, and we’re proud to bring renewable energy advancements to the forefront here in Hawai’i.”
The Schofield Generating Station stands as a testament to the power of collaboration in achieving energy security and sustainability, illustrating the Army’s unwavering support for Hawai’i’s clean energy future.
Gov. Josh Green today issued a statement regarding a federal lawsuit challenging the eligibility requirements within the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act.
“The Hawaiian Homes Commission Act was established to address the historic dispossession of Native Hawaiians and reflects a longstanding commitment to them by both the federal government and the state of Hawaiʻi,” said Green.
“This lawsuit threatens that commitment. I have directed the Department of the Attorney General to vigorously defend the Hawaiian Homes program. We will fight this lawsuit with everything we have,” he said.
The lawsuit was filed by Eric Ryan, an Oʻahu resident who is not Native Hawaiian and tried to apply for a lease, but was denied due to the 50% Native Hawaiian blood quantum requirement, according to Hawaiʻi News Now and court documents published at Courthouse News Service.
The Class Action Complaint argues that the “explicitly ancestry-based requirement” establishes a “permanent government mandate for state officials to engage in outright racial discrimination, perpetuates stereotypes, and limits housing opportunities for most Hawai‘i residents. The blood-quantum requirement thus violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment and the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution,” the complaint alleges.
Green said the administration “stands firmly with the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and the thousands of Native Hawaiian beneficiaries who rely on this program and its promise for future generations.”
Attorney General Anne Lopez also issued a statement saying the state of Hawaiʻi has both a legal and moral obligation to uphold the commitments embodied in the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act.
“This lawsuit seeks to dismantle a program that has provided opportunities, stability and hope to generations of Native Hawaiian beneficiaries,” said Lopez.
Solicitor General Kalikoʻonālani Fernandes, who has extensive experience handling complex constitutional litigation on behalf of the state, will lead the legal team in defending the state against the challenge.
“We are prepared to vigorously defend the Hawaiian Homes program and the promises it represents,” said Lopez.
Under the Green administration, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands has accelerated the delivery of homestead opportunities and expanded pathways to homeownership for Native Hawaiian beneficiaries.
In 2025 alone, DHHL offered more than 2,500 lease awards and continues to advance major housing projects, including Hale Mōʻiliʻili on Oʻahu, which will provide 278 affordable rental units for beneficiaries.
“These efforts reflect the administration’s commitment to reducing wait times, strengthening Native Hawaiian communities and fulfilling the promise of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act,” according to the governor’s announcement.
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Concrete fell from the exterior of an Ala Moana Center parking structure Monday afternoon near the Kapiolani Boulevard exit, damaging a vehicle.
No injuries were reported.
Security blocked an exit lane as debris scattered across the roadway. Ala Moana Center said they are grateful no one was hurt, and the lane will remain closed while structural engineers and construction professionals assess the damage and make repairs.
Copyright 2026 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
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