Hawaiʻi Gas: a legacy of innovation and a history of firsts
As a critical infrastructure utility located on a remote island chain, Hawaiʻi Gas has pioneered local innovation and new technologies since the very beginning.
Hawaiʻi Gas celebrates its 120th anniversary this year, marking twelve decades of service to the people of Hawai’i and a history defined by innovation. Founded in 1904 by kamaʻaina businessman William W. Dimond, the company was originally known as the Honolulu Gas Company, Ltd.
Homes and businesses on Oʻahu were supplied with fuel from the original Iwilei production plant, one of the very first of its kind worldwide. Over the decades to come, the company expanded, developing new solutions for delivering safe, reliable, affordable gas energy.
In 1960, the gas company patented the world’s first windproof tiki torch. The torch became an iconic symbol for Hawai’i, luring tourists to sandy beaches and businesses across the state.
The 1920s brought the introduction of Rockgas, a portable form of energy that fueled everything from gas refrigerators to water heaters. In 1953, the gas company received a patent for developing a gas-fired, wind-resistant luau torch that soon became ubiquitous at Hawaiʻi’s hotels and beach walks. In 1965, the Huki Kai barge began running interisland, expanding the market for clean, low-carbon Liquid Propane Gas to communities across the state. And Oʻahu’s Synthetic Natural Gas plant, built in 1974, was engineered to have a minimal impact on the local environment, receiving a Blue Sky Award from the American Lung Association.
Today, the utility system on Oʻahu stands out as an industry leader. The fuel mix contains up to 15% hydrogen—more than any other utility gas system in the country—along with Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) captured and upcycled at the City & County of Honolulu’s Honouliuli Wastewater treatment plant, another first for the state of Hawaiʻi.
Hawai’i Gas’s Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) Facility at the C&C’s Honoulu Wastewater Treatment Plant, the first of its kind in the state.
Looking to the future, Hawaiʻi Gas is focused on decarbonization, investing in new technologies and renewable fuel sources to expand locally sourced energy options. These include two more firsts: a forthcoming green hydrogen project made from solar power and recycled water, and a new RNG project which uses non-invasive bana grass as an energy crop.
Those who were part of the company in its early days would be proud to hear that its mission hasn’t changed. Carrying on their legacy of innovation, Hawaiʻi Gas plays a vital role in the state’s energy portfolio, providing clean, reliable, cost-effective energy to Hawaiʻi’s communities.
