IV.Outreach&EngagementBestPractices
Thissectionshareswhatworkedwellduringoutreach,whattheteamlearnedalongthe way,andwhattheywouldrecommendforfuturecommunityengagementeffortsinPuna.
WhatWorkedWell
Giftcardincentivesmadearealdifferenceinparticipation.Atin-personevents, anyonewhocompletedthesurveyreceivedeitheragascardoragrocerystoregiftcard Onepracticalnote:thelocalgascompanyonlysoldgiftcardsin$20increments,which canaddupquickly.Gascardsareastrongincentivebecausetheyareimmediatelyuseful tomostcommunitymembers,butthecostmaybeafactortoplanaround.Grocerystore giftcardsareagoodalternativeandtendtobeavailableinsmalleramounts.Ifusing grocerycards,makesurethestoreislocatedinornearthecommunity.Oneother importantlesson:makesureyouhaveenoughcardsforthewholeevent.Runningout mid-eventcancreateanawkwardsituationandmaydiscourageparticipationtowardthe end Toavoidthis,letparticipantsknowearlythatincentivesareavailablewhilesupplies last,onafirstcome,firstservedbasis.
Casual,relaxedsettingsworkedbetterthaneventenvironmentswherepeoplewere thereprimarilytohavefun.TheMakuʻuMarketEmergencyPreparednessFairwasone ofthestrongestoutreachmomentsbecausepeoplewerealreadyinacommunitymindset andopentoconversation.Theblockpartysetting,whilestillvaluable,wasareminder thatconcert-likeenvironmentscanmakeithardertoaskpeopletofocusonasurvey.
Aface-to-face,relationalapproachwasoneofthemostimportantfactorsinstrong participation.Communitymembersrespondedwelltobeingapproachedwarmlyand withoutrush Theteam’slocalconnectionsandapproachablestylebuilttrustquicklyand madepeoplefeelcomfortablesayingyes
Practicalsetupdetailsmatteredmorethanexpected.Havingseatingareas,working wifi,chargedtablets,keikiarea,andgiveawayitemsallcontributedtoasmoother experienceforcommunitymembers.Thesethingsmayseemsmall,buttheymadeit easierforpeopletostop,sitdown,andcompletethesurvey.
Buildingonexistingworkimprovedthesurvey.Ratherthanstartingfromscratch,the teamconnectedwithSustainableMolokaʻianddrewfromquestionsthathadalready beentestedinasimilarcommunitycontext.Thiscollaborativeapproachstrengthenedthe surveyandhonoredtheworkothershadalreadydone.
Protectinganonymitywasadeliberateandimportantchoice.Punahasexperienceda lotofsurveysanddatacollectionovertheyears,andtheteamwasawarethatcommunity membersmayhaveconcernsabouthowtheiranswerscouldbeusedortracedbackto them.Makingthesurveyfullyanonymouswasawayofbuildingtrustandcreatinga saferspaceforhonestresponses.
CulturallyGroundedStrategies
Theteamleftspaceforpeopletoanswerintheirownwords.Ratherthanforcingevery questionintoamultiple-choiceformat,open-endedquestionswereincludedso communitymemberscouldsharewhatPunameanstothemandwhattheywantforits futureintheirownlanguageandframing.Thisalloweddifferentculturalmeaningsand visionstocomethroughnaturally.
IncludingoriginalplacenamesandahupuaʻanamesacrossPunawasoneofthe strongestculturalcomponentsofthesurvey.Ahupuaʻaaretraditionallanddivisionsin Hawaiʻithatrunfromthemountainstothesea,andmanyinPunastillidentifystrongly withthesenamesandboundaries.Seeingthosenamesinthesurveysignaledto communitymembersthattheirplaceandtheiridentitywerebeingrespected.
Theoutreachstylewasrelational,nottransactional.Theteamapproachedpeoplethe wayyouwouldapproachaneighbor,notthewayasalespersonapproachesacustomer ThisfeltmorealignedwithhowcommunitymembersinPunanaturallyinteractwith eachother,ina“talkstory”fashion.
Theteamdrewfromcommunityknowledgeratherthanoutsideexpertise.Adapting questionsfromtheSustainableMolokaʻiteamandtalkingstorywithothersbefore finalizingthesurveymeantthatthequestionsreflectedrealcommunityexperience,not justwhatoutsideplannersthoughttoask.
RecommendationsforFutureEngagement
Setupakeikiarea.Havingasmalltablewithplay-dohorsimpleactivitiesforchildren madeitmucheasierforʻohanatostopandcompletethesurveywithoutfeelingrushed Thisisasimpleadditionthatmakesabigdifferenceforfamilies.Thekeikiareahad blankcards,crayons,andplay-dohforkeikitokeepbusy.
Alwayshaveseatingavailable.Acomfortableplacetositchangestheexperience entirely.Peoplearefarmorelikelytotakethetimetocompleteasurveywhentheyare notstandinginthesunortryingtobalanceatabletinacrowd.Theseatingareaalsodrew inparticipantsastheywereseenwithtabletsinarelaxedsetting.
Donotrunoutofincentives.Planformoregiftcardsthanyouthinkyouwillneed,and haveasystemfortrackingwhensuppliesarerunninglow Incentivesfortheeventsalso includedbrandedt-shirts,whichsomeparticipantspreferredoveragiftcard
Thesurveywasalsosharedonlinethroughsocialmediaanddirectlinkstofriends, neighbors,andfamilyinPuna.Onlyasmallnumberofresponsescameinthroughthat channel.Thissuggeststhatthegiftcardincentiveplayedasignificantroleinmotivating peopletocompleteasurveyofthislength.Forfutureengagement,theteamrecommends keepingincentivestiedtoin-personparticipationratherthanassumingonlinesharingwill drivestrongresponseratesonitsown.
ConsidertranslatingthesurveyintoadditionalPacificIslanderlanguages.Punais hometocommunitymembersfromacrossthePacific,andofferingthesurveyinother languageswouldmakeparticipationmoreaccessibleandsendaclearmessageof inclusion.Theteammaywanttoconsultwithlocalcommunityorganizationstoidentify whichlanguageswouldbemostuseful
Reachouttokūpuna.Considerhostingadedicatedin-personsessionwithkūpuna, usingapapercopyofthesurvey Oldercommunitymembersmaynotbecomfortable withtabletsoronlineforms,andasupportedsettingwithapaperoptionwouldallow theirvoicestobeincludedmorefully.TheteamdidprovideaQRcodewhichwaslinked tothesurveythatparticipantscouldtakeandfilloutatalatertime,butthisstillwould notreplacetheconsiderationofapapercopy.
Education.Considerputtingtogetherasimplehandoutthatcoversthehistoryofthe occupationofHawaiʻiandhowithasshapedlanduse,economicdevelopment,andwho controlsenergyresourcestoday.Thehandoutcouldalsocovercurrentrenewableenergy sourcesavailableinPuna,whomakesdecisionsaboutenergyonHawaiʻiIsland,and whatoptionsexistforcommunityownershipandinvolvement.Thesurveyshouldalso includeaquestionaskingwhetherparticipantswouldliketoreceivemoreeducational resourcesasafollow-up,sothatengagementdoesnotendwhenthesurveydoes.
V.EngagementActivityLog
Thetablebelowisalogofalloutreachandengagementactivitiesconductedaspartof thisproject.
Date Location
April26, 2026 MakuʻuMarket Emergency PreparednessFair,Puna
TypeofEngagement Participants Notes
Tabling/Survey ~100 CVSandKTA giftcards provided
May8, 2026 ActivatePunaBlock Party,Pāhoa Tabling/Survey ~121 CVScardsand partialKTA cardsprovided
May13, 2026 KeaʻauHighSchool CougarNightMarket Tabling/Survey ~110 Safewaycards andremaining KTAcards provided
May15, 2026 PrivateSchool,Middle SchoolClassroom,Puna ClassroomSurvey 6 Candyprovided inplaceofgift cards
VI.ParticipantData
Atotalof340communitymembersparticipatedinthissurvey.Thetablesbelow showwhereparticipantsliveinPuna,howlongtheyhavelivedhere,whichgeneration theybelongto,theirethnicity,householdsize,andhousingsituation
Communitymemberscamefrom24differentneighborhoodsacrossPuna Themost responsescamefromtheKeaʻauandHawaiianParadiseParkarea,whichiscloseto wherethein-personoutreacheventswereheld.HawaiianParadisePark,knownlocallyas HPP,isoneofthelargestresidentialcommunitiesonHawaiʻiIsland,witha2020census populationofnearly15,000.1 Whilethereisnosingleofficialranking,HPPiswidelysaid tobeoneofthelargestsubdivisionsintheUnitedStates,withover8,800lotsspanning morethan15squaremiles.AboutoneinthreeparticipantshaslivedinPunaformore than20yearsorwasbornandraisedhere.Anotherquarterhavelivedherebetween oneandfiveyears Thesurveyreachedpeopleofallages,andaboutoneinfour participantswasfromGenZorGenAlpha,whichmeansyoungervoicesarewell representedinthesefindings.
Neighborhood/Community
Neighborhood/Community
Neighborhood/Community
Ethnicity
EthnicityinPunaiscomplex,andthesurveyreflectsthat.Communitymemberscould selectmorethanoneethnicity,andmanydid.Abouthalfofparticipantsidentifiedas WhiteorCaucasian,aboutfourintenidentifiedasHawaiianorPart-Hawaiian,andabout athirdidentifiedasAsianorPacificIslander.Manyparticipantsselectedmorethanone ofthese,whichspeakstothemultiracialandmulticulturalrealityofwholivesinPuna today
Ethnicity(selectallthatapply)
Ethnicity(selectallthatapply) Numberof Participants
Other 22(6%)
NativeAmericanorAlaskaNative 13(4%)
BlackorAfricanAmerican 7(2%)
Prefernottosay 5(1%)
Totalresponses:340
Note: Percentages are based on 340 total participants Because community members could select more than one ethnicity, percentages will not add up to 100%
HouseholdSize
HouseholdSize Numberof Participants
1(justme) 31(9%)
2–3people 141(41%)
4–6people 133(39%)
7ormorepeople 31(9%)
Prefernottosay 3(1%) Total
HousingSituation
HousingSituation
Othersituation 8(2%)
Prefernottosay 5(1%)
HousingSituation
Numberof Participants
Houseless/transitional 1(0%)
Total
VibrantHawaiʻiIndicators
Aspartofthissurvey,communitymemberswereaskedtoratethecurrentstateofseven VibrantHawaiʻiIndicatorsinPuna TheseindicatorsweredevelopedbyVibrantHawaiʻi throughacommunity-drivenprocessthatbeganin2019,whencommunitymembers acrossHawaiʻiIslandcametogetherinregionalforumstodrawtheirvisionofavibrant Hawaiʻiandscorewherethingsstoodtoday.Fromthoseconversations,sevenindicators emergedthatreflectwhatcommunitiessaidmattersmost.
Eachindicatorisscoredona4-pointscale:1=Terrible,2=Bad,3=Good,4=Vibrant. VibrantHawaiʻicollectsthesescoresannuallyacrosstheisland.Includingtheminthis surveygivesusasnapshotofhowPunacommunitymembersfeltabouteachindicatorat thetimeofthisengagement.
Buildingrelationshipsto placeandpeoplesowe cancareforandbecared for
Accesstoequitable systemsthatpromote choiceandprosperity
Theabilitytotake ownershipofyourfuture andcontributeto collectiveabundance
Theabilitytoadaptto changeandadversity withoutbeinguprooted fromwhatmatters
ʻOhanaasapillarof supportthroughaloha, belonging,andresilience
Note: Not all 340 survey participants answered this question. Response counts per indicator range from 307 to 320.
Ofallsevenindicators,communitymembersinPunaratedStrongʻOhanaand LivingAlohathehighest.Thisreflectsacommunitythatfeelsastrongsenseoffamily andconnectiontoplace.GetChanceandGetChoicescoredthelowest,suggestingthat whilecommunitybondsarestrong,accesstoopportunityandsystemsthatsupport people’sabilitytoshapetheirownfuturesfeelslikeanareawheremoreworkisneeded
VII.RelevantHistorical&CulturalContext
Beforepresentingthefindings,itisimportanttoprovidesomehistorical,cultural,and politicalcontextaboutPunaandthepeoplewhocallithome.Communityperspectiveson energy,resilience,land,anddevelopmentdonotexistinisolation.Theyareshapedby generationsoflivedexperience,culturalrelationshipstoplace,anddiffering understandingsofHawaiʻi'shistory,political,andlegalstatus.Understandingthiscontext isessentialtounderstandingconcerns,priorities,andaspirationsexpressedbycommunity membersthroughoutthisreport.
TheTerm“NativeHawaiian”
Thewordsweusematterbecausetheyshapehowweunderstandhistory,identity,andthe challengescommunitiesfacetoday.
Theterm"NativeHawaiian"iscommonlyusedbytheUnitedStatestodescribethe AboriginalHawaiianpeopleasanIndigenousminoritygroupwithintheUnitedStates, similartoNativeAmericantribes.ThisviewseesHawaiʻiasaplacethatwascolonized andbecamepartoftheUnitedStates,andHawaiiansasIndigenouspeoplelivingwithina countrynotoftheirownmaking
However,someHawaiianscholars,includingDavidKeanuSai,arguethatthis descriptiondoesnotfullyexplainHawaiʻi'shistory TheypointoutthattheHawaiian
KingdomwasaninternationallyrecognizedindependentcountrybeginningonNovember 28,1843,andthattheoverthrowofitsgovernmentin1893didnotlegallyendthe existenceoftheHawaiianState 15 .
Fromthisperspective,callingHawaiiansonlyanIndigenousorethnicgroupcanhidethe factthatHawaiʻiwasonceasovereigncountrywithitsowngovernment.Itcanalsoshift attentionawayfromquestionsabouttheoverthrowoftheHawaiianKingdomandthe effectsthateventcontinuestohavetoday FormanyHawaiians,thisismorethana disagreementaboutwords.Itaffectshowpeopleunderstandlandrights,government, identity,andeconomicdevelopmentinHawaiʻi.
Forthepurposesofthisreport,theterm"AboriginalHawaiian"willbeusedwhen referringtotheoriginalpeopleofHawaiʻi.ThisfollowsthelanguageusedbyPrincess BernicePauahiBishop,whoestablishedhertrusttosupporttheeducationofHawaiian childrenandgavepreferencetothoseof"pureorpartaboriginalblood."14
ThePlaceofPuna
AncientHawaiiansandcurrentHawaiians,bothaboriginalandnon-aboriginal,holdPuna asoneofthemostsacredplacesinalltheislands.AstheeasternmostpointatCape Kumukahi(AKAHaʻehaʻe)ofMokuoKeawe(HawaiʻiIsland),itiswheretheday begins.TheMoaʻe(northeasttradewinds)arriveherefirst,andtheua(rain)fallsover Punabeforereachinganywhereelse PunaisthehomeofPele,thevolcanodeity,whose homeisatKīlaueaandherpresenceisfeltinthelavaflowsandthelanditself TraditionalchantshonorPuna’sforests,winds,heat,anddeepconnectiontolifeand creationcycles.Theknowledge,stories,hula,andtraditionalpracticesofAboriginal HawaiianfamiliesinPunahavebeenkeptaliveforgenerationsandcontinuetobepassed downtoday.
ScholarDaviannaPōmaikaʻiMcGregor,whohasstudiedtheculturalhistoryofPuna, describeshowplaceiscentraltoHawaiianidentity.Aplacegivesapersontheirhistory, thehistoryoftheirfamily,andthehistoryoftheirpeople.FormanyinPuna,this connectiontothelandisnotjusthistory,itislivingandpresent
AhupuaʻaandPlaceNames
Punaismadeupofroughly60ahupuaʻa,whicharetraditionallanddivisionsthatrun fromthemountainstothesea.Thesewerenotjustboundariesonamap.Theyorganized howcommunitiesfished,farmed,gatheredwaterandmedicine,andcaredfortheland together.Peopleknewwhichahupuaʻatheylivedin,andthatknowledgeconnectedthem totheirplace,theirneighbors,andtheirresponsibilitiestotheland.
MuchofmodernPunaiscoveredbysubdivisionsthatwerebuiltinthelast50to60years withlittleattentiontothesetraditionalboundariesorHawaiianplacenames Many
communitymembersgrowupnotknowingwhichahupuaʻatheylivein.Inresponse, researchersatUHHiloandHawaiʻiCommunityCollegeworkedtogetheronthePuna AhupuaʻaAwarenessProject.Theycreatedadetailedmapofalltheahupuaʻathatmake upthedistrictofPuna.Themapisavailabletothepublicat hilohawaiiedu/sdav/ahupuaaphp ThegoalistohelppeopleinPunareconnectwiththe traditionalnamesandboundariesofthelandtheycallhome 2
Occupation,LandTransformation,andEconomicDevelopmentinPuna
TounderstandPunatoday,itisimportanttounderstandsomeofthemajorchangesthat happenedinHawaiʻiaftertheoverthrowoftheHawaiianKingdomin1893.
Beforetheoverthrow,Hawaiʻiwasaninternationallyrecognizedcountrywithitsown government,landsystems,andeconomy.Manydecisionsaboutlandandresourceswere guidedbythegoalofcaringforbothpeopleandʻāina Aftertheoverthrowandthe expansionofUS control,landandeconomicprioritiesbegantochange Largeareasof landwereusedforplantations,militarypurposes,tourism,andrealestatedevelopment. ThesechangesaffectedcommunitiesthroughoutHawaiʻi,includingPuna.
InPuna,manylargeareasoflandweredividedintosubdivisionsandsold,oftenwith littlelong-termplanningforroads,utilities,healthcare,oremergencyservices.Overtime, thiscontributedtosomeofthechallengesthedistrictfacestoday,includinghousing insecurity,environmentalimpacts,limitedinfrastructure,andeconomicdependenceon outsideindustries.ManyAboriginalHawaiianfamiliesalsobecameseparatedfrom ancestrallandsandfromtraditionalwaysofprovidingfortheirfamiliesthroughfishing, farming,andcaringfornaturalresources
Atthesametime,Punahasremainedaplaceofstrongculturalidentityandcommunity resilience.Manyfamiliescontinuetopracticealohaʻāina,passdownʻikekūpuna (ancestralknowledge),andworktogetheronprojectsthatstrengthenfoodsecurity, culturaltraditions,andlocaleconomicopportunities.
UnderstandingthishistoryhelpsexplainwhymanypeopleinPunacaredeeplyabout land,communitydecision-making,andthefutureofthedistrict.ThechallengesPuna facestoday,andthesolutionsmanycommunitymemberssupport,arecloselyconnected toquestionsofland,governance,identity,andthelong-termimpactsoftheoverthrowof theHawaiianKingdom.
The2018Eruption
OnMay3,2018,lavabrokethroughthegroundintheLeilaniEstates neighborhood,beginningwhatwouldbecomethemostdestructivevolcaniceruption inHawaiʻiinatleast200years.Overthenextseveralmonths,24cracksintheearth
openedacrosslowerPunaandbeganpouringoutlava.Bythetimetheeruptionended,it hadcoveredmorethan8,700acres,buried30milesofroads,destroyedover700homes andbuildings,andforced2,500to3,000communitymemberstoleavetheirhomes, sometimeswithonlyafewhours’notice.3
Entireneighborhoodswerelost.LeilaniEstates,LanipunaGardens,Kapoho Vacationland,andKapohoBeachLotswerecoveredbylava ThebelovedKapohoBay anditstidepoolsweredestroyed TheAhalanuiwarmponds,acherishedgatheringplace forfamiliesandaresourceforthosewhofishandswim,weregone.4 Aboutoneinfour communitymembersdirectlyaffectedbytheeruptionwerelivingbelowthepoverty line.5 Damagetopublicroads,waterlines,andotherinfrastructurewasestimatedat $236.5million.6
OnelossthatPunaisstilllivingwithtodayisthePohoikiboatramp.Lavafromthe eruptionsentsand,rocks,anddebrisdowntothecoastline,fillinginPohoikiBayand cuttingofftheonlyboatrampbetweenHiloandSouthPoint.Pohoikihadbeena gatheringplaceforfamilies,lawaiʻa(fishermen),surfers,andswimmersforgenerations Familiesfishedthereforfood.Commercialfishermendependedonittoearnaliving. Sincetheeruption,morethanhalfofthefishermenwhousedtolaunchatPohoikihave soldtheirboats.In2025,a$9.28millionprojecttodredgeachannelandreopentheramp wascompleted,butitfailedwithindaysduetonaturaloceanswellsrefillingthechannel withsandanddebris.Asofthewritingofthisreport,therampisstillnotaccessible,and long-termsolutionsarestillbeingworkedout.7
Eventhroughallofthisloss,thecommunityofPunashowedupforitself.Neighbors organizedtoshelterandsupplyfamilieswhohadlosteverything,careforanimals,and supporteachother ThatspiritisstillpartofwhoPunaistoday
GeothermalEnergyinPuna:AHistoryofTension
AnyconversationaboutenergyinPunahastoincludethelongandcomplicatedhistory ofgeothermalenergyinthedistrict.
Hawaiʻi’sfirstgeothermaltestwellwasdrilledonKīlauea’sEastRiftZonein1976. Fromthestart,itwasmetwithstrongopposition.ManyAboriginalHawaiianssaw drillingintoPele’sdomainasadesecrationofsacredland.Communitygroups,cultural practitioners,andorganizationslikethePeleDefenseFundorganizedprotests,gave testimonyatpublichearings,andfiledlawsuits In1985,amajorflashpointcamewhen thestatetradedabout27,800acresofpubliclandatWaoKeleoPuna,thelargest remainingnativelowlandwetforestinHawaiʻi,totheCampbellEstateforgeothermal development.8 In1990,morethan1,000protestersgatheredatthedrillingsite.Over130 peoplewerearrestedthatday.
In1992,theHawaiʻiStateSupremeCourtruledinPeleDefenseFundv.Patythatthe statehasadutytoprotect“Native”Hawaiiancustomarypracticesonpublictrustlands. Thiswasalandmarkdecisionfor“Native”Hawaiianrights.TheCampbellEstate
abandoneditsgeothermalprojectin1994.In2007,WaoKeleoPunawaspurchasedby theOfficeofHawaiianAffairsandprotectedpermanently.9
ThePunaGeothermalVentureplant,knownasPGV,openedin1993andtodayprovides about19%ofHawaiʻiIsland’selectricity.10 Theplanthascontinuedtofaceopposition fromthecommunitysinceitsinception.CommunitymemberslivingnearPGVhave raisedconcernsabouthealthimpactsfromhydrogensulfidegasemissionsformany years In2016,theU.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgencyreachedasettlementwith PGVafterfindingthatthecompanyhadfailedtotakenecessarystepstoprevent accidentalreleasesofhydrogensulfidein2013.PGVagreedtopayacivilpenaltyof $76,500.11 HealthstudiesontheimpactsofgeothermaloperationsonPuna’scommunity havefoundthatrisksexist,butthefullextentofthoseimpactshasnotbeenfully resolved.
The2018eruptiontemporarilyshutdownPGVafterlavaflowssurroundedthefacility.It didnotreopenuntilNovember2020.
ThedebateovergeothermalenergyinPunaisnotresolved.Somecommunity membersseeitasaviolationofsacredlandandahealthrisk Othersseeitasapathto lowerelectricitycostsandenergyindependenceforHawaiʻi.Thisisareal,longstanding tensioninPuna,anditisimportantbackgroundforunderstandinghowcommunity membersthinkandfeelaboutenergydevelopmenttoday.
WhatMakesPuna,Puna?WhatShouldNeverBeLostorCompromised?
CommunitymemberswereaskedtochoosefromalistofthingsthatmakePunaunique. Theycouldselectmorethanoneanswer.Theresultsshowstrong,consistent agreementacrosstheboard.
Takentogether,theseresponsesreflectacommunitythatseesitselfasdeeply connectedtoplace.Notjustlivinginalocation,butlivingwithandfromtheland,in relationshipwiththepeoplearoundthem,andincontinuitywiththecultureandvalues thatcamebefore.Thisiswhatscholarsandcommunitypractitionersdescribeas place-basedknowledge:theunderstandingthatwhoweareisinseparablefromwherewe are.
Afewcommunitymembersalsowroteintheirownanswers.Onementionedocean access.AnotherwroteabouttheliveandletliveattitudeofPuna.Anothermentionedthe arts.Theseadditions,whilefewerinnumber,speaktothesameunderlyingtheme:that Punaholdssomethingthatfeelsdifferent,andthatdifferenceisworthprotecting
VisionfortheFuture
Communitymemberswerealsoaskedanopen-endedquestion:whatisyourvisionfor thefutureofPuna,foryourchildrenandgrandchildren?Atotalof309community membersrespondedintheirownwords
Becausetheseareopen-endedresponses,theyreflectindividualvoicesandperspectives Noteveryonesaidthesamething.Butseveralideascameupagainandagain,and togethertheypaintapictureofwhatcommunitymembershopePunacanbe.
Themostcommonthreadrunningthroughtheresponseswastheʻāina.Many communitymemberswroteaboutwantingthelandtobeprotected,theforeststostay standing,andthenaturalenvironmenttoremainintactforfuturegenerations.Thiswas notjustaboutscenery.Itwasaboutsurvival,sustenance,andidentity.
“For the ʻāina and the people to thrive.”
“I want Puna to stay forested.”
“Community control of ea and ʻāina.”
Theseresponsesechothevaluesexpressedinthepreviousquestion.Thelandisnot separatefromthecommunity Itispartofit
Community,ʻohana,andconnectiontoeachothercameupnearlyasoften.Many communitymembersdescribedwantingPunatobeaplacewherepeoplelookoutforone another,wherefamiliescanstaytogetheracrossgenerations,andwherethebonds betweenneighborsremainstrong.
“A place where community works together to create a safe, accessible, and inclusive space for everyone to thrive.”
“People who value ʻohana, community and live aloha, where locals and Hawaiians are the leaders and transplants come to support that way of life, not to cause housing inflation and price them out.”
“My vision is that my children and grandchildren can choose to stay in Puna, afford to buy a home, work in the professions they choose, maintain their connection to the ʻāina, feel support in continuing cultural practices, and live in safe and respectful places.”
CultureandHawaiianidentitycameupinmanyresponsesassomethingcommunity memberswanttoseecarriedforward.
“Puna should be a place where culture thrives, and where these wahi pana are known. I would hope for my keiki to understand the deep history of this place.”
“For the keiki to learn more about our culture and agriculture.”
“I hope my keiki will have the opportunity to live in Puna, close to their ʻohana.”
Self-sufficiencyandsustainabilitycameuprepeatedlyasbothavalueanda practicalgoal.
“To continue to be able to be self sufficient, grow our food, collect our water, generate our own power, connect with our communities.”
“A clean self-sufficient grid independent community with food security.”
“Permaculture and self-sustaining sovereignty.”
Affordabilitywasanotherrecurringconcern.Manycommunitymemberswroteabout wantingtostayinPuna,orwantingtheirchildrenandgrandchildrentobeabletostay, withoutbeingpricedout
“Not to be priced out of our home.”
“Keeping Puna affordable for the next generation.”
“That my children and grandchildren can affordably live and work here.”
Safetyalsocameupinasignificantnumberofresponses Communitymemberswrote aboutwantingsaferstreets,lessdruguse,andlesshomelessness,particularlyinand aroundPāhoaTown.Thiswasnotafringeconcern.Itshowedupacrossmanydifferent responsesandreflectssomethingrealaboutdailylifeinPunathatcommunitymembers wanttoseechange.
Itisworthnotingthatnoteveryonesharedthesamevision.Somecommunitymembers wrotethattheywantPunatostayexactlyasitis.Otherssaidtheywantbetterroads,a hospitalclosertohome,morestores,andimprovedservices.Bothofthesethingscame up,andbothareworthnoting Thistensionbetweenpreservingwhatishereand improvingwhatislackingisreal,andanyplanningforPuna’sfuturewillneedtohold bothofthosethingsatonce.
Finally,anumberofcommunitymemberswrotespecificallyaboutenergy,eventhough thisquestionwasnotdirectlyaboutenergy.Theydescribedwantingenergy independence,theabilitytogeneratetheirownpower,andfreedomfromdependenceon thegrid.
“Peace throughout the land, prosperity for the people, food, abundance, water, security, natural energy sources.”
“Energy and food sovereignty.”
WhatThisHistoryMeansforPlanning
ThehistoryofPunaholdsimportantlessonsforanyonemakingdecisionsaboutenergy, land,anddevelopmenthere.
Overthepastseveraldecades,largepartsofPunaweredevelopedandsubdividedwith littleinputfromthecommunity.Traditionallandboundariesandculturalpracticeswere largelyignored,andlong-terminfrastructureneedswerenotfullyplannedfor.Today, peopleinPunastilllivewiththeresultsofthosechoices:roadswithnoemergency alternatives,limitedaccesstohospitalsandservices,andneighborhoodsbuiltinareas withhighvolcanicrisk
ThehistoryofgeothermalenergyinPunashowswhatcanhappenwhendevelopment movesforwardwithoutearningcommunitytrustfirst.Decadesofprotests,lawsuits,and ongoinghealthconcernsdidnotstartfromnowhere.Theygrewfromapatternof decisionsbeingmadewithoutthecommunity.Thathistoryisstillpresentinhowmany peopleinPunathinkandfeelaboutenergydevelopmenttoday.
The2018eruptionrevealedbothhowvulnerablePuna’sinfrastructureisandhowstrong itscommunityis.Yearslater,recoveryisstillunfinished.ThePohoikiboatrampisstill notopen.Roadsandservicesthatwerelosthavenotfullycomeback.
Allofthispointstoafewclearthingsthatmatterforplanning.Communitytrusthastobe builtbeforedecisionsaremade,notafter Infrastructurehastobedesignedwithnatural hazardriskinmind AndanydevelopmentthattouchesPuna’sland,culture,orresources needstoincludethepeoplewholiveherefromtheverystart.
VIII.ImpactsofPowerOutagesandCommunityPreparedness
PoweroutagesarenotarareordistantconcernforpeopleinPuna.Theyarearegularpart oflifehere.ThePunadistrictsitsattheendoflongtransmissionlinesthatrunthrough denseforest,alongroadswithfewalternatives,andthroughareasexposedtohighwinds, heavyrain,andvolcanicactivity.Whensomethinggoeswrong,itoftentakesalongtime tofix.
TheMarch2026KonaLowstorm,whichhitjustweeksbeforethissurveywas conducted,leftabout16,000HawaiianElectriccustomersonHawaiʻiIslandwithout power,withPunaamongthehardesthitareas HawaiianElectricwarnedcommunity
memberstoplanforprolongedoutageslastingpossiblydays,andrestorationwasslowed byfallentrees,downedlines,andfloodedroadsblockingaccesstothehardesthit neighborhoods.12 Thiswasnotanisolatedevent.AfterTropicalStormIsellestruckPuna inAugust2014,somecommunitymemberswerewithoutpowerforovertwoweeks.Full powerrestorationacrosstheislandtooknearlyfiveweeks 13 Thesestormsarepartofa patternthatPunahaslivedwithforalongtime,andthesurveydatareflectsthatlived experience.
WhatBecameDifficultorDangerousDuringOutages
Thesurveyaskedcommunitymemberstoselecteverythingthatbecamedifficultor dangerousforthemortheirʻohanaduringrecentpoweroutages,includingstorm-related outages.
Themostcommonimpactwaskeepingfoodfromspoiling.Sevenintencommunity membersselectedthis Thesecondmostcommonwaswateraccess,selectedbyabout halfofallparticipants.ThisfindingisspecifictoPunainanimportantway Many householdsinPunarelyonelectricwellpumpsorcatchmentsystemstogettheirwater. Whenthepowergoesout,thewaterstopstoo.
Nearlyoneinfourcommunitymemberssaidthatpoweroutagescreateadirect medicalriskforsomeoneintheirhousehold.Safetyandlightingatnightandcooking andpreparingfoodwereeachselectedbyabout46%ofcommunitymembers. Communication,includinggettingemergencyinformationandreachingfamily,was selectedby45%.Caringforkūpuna(elders)orkeiki(children)wasselectedby39%,and medicalequipmentormedicationsthatrequirepowerwasselectedby24%
Only22%ofparticipantssaidtheirhouseholdwasnotsignificantlyimpacted.That meansthelargemajorityofcommunitymembersinPunahavefelttheeffectsofoutages inreal,practicalways.
Asmallnumberofcommunitymemberswroteinadditionalimpacts.Afewnotedthat theyareoff-gridandwerenotaffected.Onecommunitymembersharedthattheirroof leakedandtheirceilingpartiallycollapsedduringastormevent.Theseindividual responses,whilefew,speaktotherangeofexperiencesacrossPuna.
HowPreparedDoHouseholdsFeel
Thesurveyaskedcommunitymembershowwellpreparedtheirhouseholdisfordisasters asseeninthetablebelow.ThesenumberssuggestthatmostcommunitymembersinPuna aretakingsomestepstowardpreparedness,butmanyfeeltheystillhaveroomtogo.The gapbetweenwherepeopleareandwheretheywanttobeshowsupclearlyinthenext question.
Note: 330 of 340 participants answered this question.
WhatWouldHelpCommunityMembersBeBetterPrepared
Thesurveyaskedcommunitymemberstoselecteverythingthatwouldhelpthemand theirhouseholdsbebetterpreparedfordisastersandpoweroutages
Thetopresponse,selectedby59%ofparticipants,wasaccesstoaffordablebackup power,includinggenerators,solarsystems,andbatterystorage.Thiswasthemost selectedoptionbyawidemargin.Italsoconnectsdirectlytothenextsectionofthis report,whichlooksatwhatcommunitymemberswantandneedtoknowaboutenergy optionsavailabletothem.
Accesstoemergencyfoodandwaterstoragesuppliescamesecondat44%.Financial assistancetomakehomeimprovementsforresiliencewasthirdat36%.Acommunity toolorequipmentlendingprogramwasselectedby35%,andknowingwhichneighbors canbecountedonformutualsupportwasselectedby34%
Theseresponsesreflectsomethingimportant.Themostcommonanswersarenotonly aboutindividualhouseholdsgettingbetterequipped.Theyarealsoaboutcommunity resources,sharedtools,andneighbornetworks.Thismirrorsthevaluesaround self-sufficiencyandcommunityconnectionthatcamethroughinSectionVII.Community membersinPunaarenotjustaskingforhelpfromoutside Theyareaskingforthetools andconnectionstohelpthemselvesandeachother
Only14%ofparticipantssaidtheyfeelwellpreparedatthistime
WhatCausesPowerOutagesinPuna
Thesurveyaskedcommunitymemberstoselectthemostcommoncausesofpower outagesintheirneighborhood.Theresultspointclearlytooneprimarycause:treesand vegetationonpowerlines
Eightintencommunitymembersselectedtreesorlargebranchesfallingonpower lines.Sevenintenselectedstormorhighwinddamagetopolesorlines.Thesetwo responsesreflectsomethingspecificaboutlivinginPuna,wheredenseforest,heavy rainfall,andfrequentstormscreateongoingpressureonpowerinfrastructure.
Vehicleaccidentsinvolvingutilitypoleswereselectedby36%.Overgrownvegetationon neighboringorvacantpropertieswasselectedby24%.Thissecondfindingisworth
notingseparately.Itpointsnotjusttoweathereventsbuttoalandmaintenancechallenge inPuna,wheremanylotssitvacantorarenotregularlycleared,andovergrowntreesand brushcanbringdownpowerlines.Thisisacommunity-levelissue,notjustautility issue,anditcameupelsewhereinthesurveyaswell.
Only9%ofcommunitymemberssaidtheyarenotsurewhatcausestheiroutages,which suggeststhatpeopleinPunahaveaclearandgroundedunderstandingofwhatisgoing wrongwiththeirpowerinfrastructure
IX.CommunityEnergyInformationNeeds
Oneofthemostimportantfindingsinthisentiresurveyishowmuchcommunity membersinPunawanttolearnaboutenergy.
Thesurveyaskedcommunitymemberswhatelsetheyneedtoknowtofeelconfident makingdecisionsaboutenergyinPuna.Only8%ofparticipantssaidtheyfeelthey alreadyhaveenoughinformation.Thatmeansnineoutoftencommunitymembers saidtheywanttoknowmore.
Thisisnotasmallgap.Itisaclearandconsistentsignalacrossthecommunitythat energyeducationisneededandwanted.Atthesametime,theresponsesshowthat communitymembersarenotstartingfromzero.Theyareaskingspecific,informed questionsaboutrealoptionsandrealdecisions Theappetiteforinformationisbroadand itispractical.
Themostselectedresponsewassolar,wind,andotherrenewableenergyoptions availableinPuna,chosenby56%ofparticipants.Batterystorageandbackup powersystemscamesecondat48%.Howtheelectricgridworkswasselectedby42%. Howtoreduceenergycostswasselectedby37%.
Microgridsandcommunityenergysystemsandwhatdevelopersarecurrentlyproposing fortheareawereeachselectedbyaboutoneinthreeparticipants.Ourrightsandoptions asacommunitywereselectedby32%,andenergyanditsconnectiontowaterand agriculturewasselectedby31%.Howtoparticipateinenergydecision-makingwas selectedby28%,andenergyjusticeandcommunityrightswasselectedby26%
Notably,aboutoneinthreecommunitymembersselectedalloftheabove.Thisisa strongsignal FormanypeopleinPuna,theneedisnotaboutonespecifictopic Itis aboutunderstandingthewholepicture.
Afewcommunitymembersalsowroteintheirownresponses.Oneaskedspecifically abouthowmuchpowerPunaproducesina24-hourcycle.Thiskindofquestionreflects thesamevaluesweheardthroughoutthesurvey:communitymemberswantto understandnotjustwhatenergycoststhem,buthowtheenergysystemaroundthem actuallyworksandwhatrolePunaplaysinit.
Takentogether,theseresponsesshowthatcommunitymembersinPunaarereadyfora realconversationaboutenergy Theywanttounderstandtheiroptions,knowtheirrights, andbepartofthedecisionsbeingmadeabouttheirfuture Thatisexactlywhatthis engagementprocesswasdesignedtosupport.
TounderstandwhatenergymeanstopeopleinPuna,ithelpstostartwithwherethings standtoday.Thissectionlooksatwhatcommunitymembersarecurrentlypayingfor electricity,howconcernedtheyareaboutthosecosts,whattheyhavealreadydoneto reducetheirusage,howtheyfeelabouttheenvironmentalandhealthimpactsofcurrent electricityproduction,andwhattheyhopeenergycouldlooklikeforPunainthefuture
WhatCommunityMembersAreCurrentlyPaying
Thesurveyaskedcommunitymembersabouttheiraveragemonthlyelectricitycostsas showninthetablebelow.Twelvepercentofparticipantspay$50orlesseachmonth.This grouplikelyincludescommunitymemberswhoareoff-gridorgeneratemostoftheirown power.
Notably,14%ofparticipantssaidtheydonotknowwhattheypayeachmonth. Knowingyourbillisabasicstartingpointformakingdecisionsaboutenergy,andnot everyoneisthereyet
Whenaskedabouttheirmonthlyelectricityusageinkilowatthours,58%ofparticipants saidtheydonotknow Thisisnotsurprisingsincemostpeopledonotreadtheirbillsin technicalterms,butitreflectsarealgapinenergyliteracythatanycommunityeducation effortshouldaddress.
HowConcernedAreCommunityMembersAboutEnergyCosts
Thesurveyaskedcommunitymemberstoratehowconcernedtheyareaboutthecostof theirelectricbillonascaleof1to5asshowninthetablebelow
ThesenumbersshowthatforthemajorityofcommunitymembersinPuna,the electricbillisarealsourceofstress.Itisnotaminorconcern
StepsCommunityMembersHaveAlreadyTaken
Thesurveyaskedcommunitymemberswhattheyhavealreadydonetoreducetheir electricityusage.TheresultsshowthatmanypeopleinPunaareactivelytryingto managetheirenergyuse.
Themostcommonstep,takenby62%ofparticipants,wasusingfansinsteadofair conditioning.Thisreflectstherealityoflifeinaplacethatrarelygetscoldenoughto needheatingbutcangetwarmenoughtowantcooling,andwhererunningair conditioningisoftensimplytooexpensive.Energy-efficientlightingwassecondat56%. Takingshortershowerswasselectedby45%,whichspeakstotheconnectionbetween electricityandwaterthatisspecifictoPuna,whereelectricpumpspowermany householdwatersystems.InstallingEnergyStarapplianceswasselectedby41%,and solarwaterheatingby23%.
Thewrite-inresponsesaddedtexturetothispicture.Severalcommunitymembers mentionedlivingentirelyoff-grid.Othersdescribedusingpropaneforcooking,water heating,andlaundry.Severalmentionedsolarpanelsandbatterysystems.Afew describedsimplehabitsliketurningofflightsandunpluggingappliances.One communitymembernotedtheyusehigh-powerapplianceslateatnightwhenelectricityis cheaper
Theseresponsesshowacommunitythatisalreadyresourcefulandproactive Many peopleinPunaarenotwaitingforoutsidesolutions.Theyarealreadyfindingwaysto manage.
ConcernAboutEnvironmentalandHealthImpacts
Thesurveyalsoaskedcommunitymembershowconcernedtheyareaboutthe environmentalandhealthimpactsofhowelectricityiscurrentlyproduced
Theresultsarestriking.About83%ofparticipantssaidtheyaresomewhat,very,or extremelyconcerned.ThisfindingsitsalongsidewhatweheardinSectionVIIaboutthe historyofgeothermalenergyinPunaandthelongrecordofcommunityconcernabout hydrogensulfideemissionsandthehealthimpactsofPGV.Italsoreflectsabroader awarenessaboutfossilfuels,pollution,andthehealthoftheʻāina.Formanycommunity membersinPuna,energyisnotjustaneconomicissue.Itisahealthandenvironmental onetoo.
WhatEnergySuccessLooksLikeforPuna
Thesurveyaskedcommunitymemberstoselectfromalistofwhatenergysuccesswould looklikeforPuna.Theycouldchoosemorethanoneanswer.Theresultsshowa communitywithaclearandconsistentvision.
Eightintencommunitymembers,81%,selectedenergythatisaffordableforevery household.Thiswasthetopresponsebyawidemargin.Itisthesingleclearestsignalin thisentiresection:affordabilityisthefoundationthateverythingelseisbuilton.
Abouttwointhreeselectedenergythatprotectsandsupportstheʻāinaandenergy thatisresilient,meaningthecommunitycanstillfunctionwhenthegridgoesdown. About64%selectedenergythatisreliablewithnomoreoutagesdisruptingdailylife.
Afewcommunitymemberswroteintheirownanswers.Onewrotesimply:“Freeand sustainable.”Anotherwrote:“Accesstoequipmentforoff-grid.”Theseadditionsreflect thesamevalues:affordability,self-sufficiency,andlocalcontrol
Takentogether,theseresponsespaintaclearpictureofwhatthecommunitywantsfrom anenergyfuture.Itisnotjustaboutswitchingtosolarorreducingemissions.Itisabout buildingasystemthatisaffordable,resilient,locallycontrolled,andconnectedtothe landandfoodsystemsthatPunadependson.
HowRenewableEnergyCanSupporttheFuture
Thesurveyaskedcommunitymembersanopen-endedquestion:howcanrenewable energysupportthefutureyouwantforPuna?
Becausethiswasanopen-endedquestion,theresponsesreflectindividualvoices.Not everyonesaidthesamething Butseveralthemescameupagainandagainacrossthe morethan270responses.
Themostcommonthemewaslowercostsandgreateraffordability.Manycommunity membersdescribedrenewableenergyprimarilyasawaytobringdownelectricbillsand reducetheoverallcostoflivinginPuna.Severalresponsesconnectedthisdirectlyto beingabletostayinPuna,sayingthatlowerenergycostscouldhelpfamilieswhoare strugglingtoaffordtoremainhere.
“Less helco bills allows for more food on the table and sustainable households.”
“Renewable energy can save families money and make us self sufficient. We’re just not able to afford it.”
“Provide a means for younger generations and families to afford to live and work in Puna.”
Thesecondmostcommonthemewasenergyindependenceandself-sufficiency. ManycommunitymembersdescribedwantingtobefreefromdependenceonHECOand outsideenergycompanies.Solarwasbyfarthemostcommonlymentionedtechnology, withmanypeopledescribingwantingeveryhometohavesolarpanels
“We will not be dependent on HELCO or any other electric company.”
“By giving us financial freedom from energy suppliers and sovereignty over our own power supply.”
“Maintain our independence. Keep us sustainably powered off what our island produces, sun, wind, ocean so we aren’t so dependent upon the mainland.”
Protectingtheʻāinaandtheenvironmentalsocamethroughstrongly.Several communitymembersdescribedrenewableenergyasawaytokeepthelandclean,reduce pollution,andcareforthenaturalenvironment.
“By not polluting the ʻāina.”
“To able to afford AND to be in harmony with ʻāina.”
“It can reduce costs and help protect the ʻāina.”
Anumberofcommunitymembersmentionedgeothermalenergyspecificallyand negatively.Severalwrote“nogeothermal”or“don’tmesswithPele.”Onecommunity membersharedaparticularlystrikingresponseaboutarecenthydrogensulfidereleaseat PGV:
“No geothermal!!! Community just got poisoned on Wed. Was 6 hr ‘clean out.’ A dear friend went to hospital. Everyone I know coughing.”
ThisresponsereflectsthelivinghistorydiscussedinSectionVII.Theconcernsabout geothermalenergyinPunaarenotabstractorhistorical.Theyarepresentandpersonal forsomecommunitymembers.
Asmallernumberofresponsesweremoreopentoorsupportiveofgeothermalenergy, withonecommunitymemberwritingthatPGVprovidesbaselinepowerandprice stability Oneresponsemadeadetailedcasefornuclearenergy Theseperspectives,while fewerinnumber,arepartofthefullpictureandworthacknowledging
Severalresponsesfromyoungercommunitymembersreflectedcuriosityandopenness ratherthanspecificopinions.Anumbersaidtheydonotknowenoughyetandwantto learnmore,whichconnectsdirectlytothefindingsinSectionIXaboutthebroadappetite forenergyeducation.
“No idea. I need more education.”
“I don’t know much about it.”
“I’m not sure of all the options but if renewable energy can offset monthly energy prices in a sustainable way, I’m for it.”
XI.CommunityParticipationandRepresentation
Thesurveyaskedcommunitymembershowconnectedtheyfeeltoenergy decision-makinginPuna,whethertheywanttobeinvolved,andwhatkindsof participationwouldworkbestforthem.Theresponsespaintapictureofacommunity thatisengaged,willing,andreadytostepup,butonethatfeelslargelyleftoutofthe conversationsthatshapetheirenergyfuture
Community-LedActionsPeopleAreWillingtoSupport
Thesurveyaskedcommunitymemberswhatcommunity-ledactionstheywouldbe willingtosupportorparticipateintoimproveneighborhoodresilienceasshowninthe tablebelow.(Theycouldselectmorethanoneanswer.)
Themostselectedresponsewascheckinginonkūpunaorvulnerableneighbors afterstorms,chosenby49%ofparticipants.Thisreflectsthesamevaluesaround caringforeldersandlookingoutforeachotherthatcamethroughinSectionVII.Italso speakstoacommunitythatalreadyseesitselfasasupportnetwork,notjustacollection ofhouseholds
Afewcommunitymemberswroteintheirownresponses Onementionedtheir involvementwiththePāhoaNightMarket.Onewrotehonestlyaboutnothavingenough timedespitewantingtohelp.Theseresponsesreflectreal-lifeconstraintsthatany communityorganizingeffortshouldaccountfor.
InterestinaCommunityVegetationandRoad-ClearingTaskForce
Thesurveyalsoaskedwhethercommunitymemberswouldbeinterestedina community-basedvegetationandroad-clearingtaskforce,describedasatrained,verified teamofPunacommunitymembersauthorizedtosafelyclearhazardoustreesandrestore accessafterstorms Thosewhosaidyeswereaskedtoprovidetheiremailaddress
Nearly100communitymembersprovidedtheircontactinformationinresponseto thisquestion.Thatisameaningfullevelofinterestinaspecific,practical, community-ledsolutiontooneofPuna’smostpersistentinfrastructurechallenges.These contactsrepresentarealstartingpointforanyonelookingtoorganizethiskindofeffort.
HowWellRepresentedDoCommunityMembersFeel
Thesurveyaskedcommunitymembershowwelltheyfeeltheirenergyprioritiesare currentlyrepresentedbyorganizationsworkingonenergyissuesinHawaiʻiasshownin thetablebelow
Themostcommonsingleresponsewas“Idon’tknow,”selectedby87participants Takentogether,onlyabout8%ofparticipantswhoansweredthisquestionsaidtheyfeel mostlyorfullyrepresented.Thatisasmallfractionofthecommunity.Thelargenumber of“Idon’tknow”responsesalsotellsitsownstory:manycommunitymembersmaynot evenbeawareofwhoisworkingonenergyissues,letalonewhetherthoseorganizations arespeakingforthem.
Thesurveyaskedcommunitymembersdirectly:wouldyouliketoparticipateinenergy planningforPuna?
Themostcommonresponsewas“maybe,I’dliketolearnmorefirst,”54%ofall respondents.Forty-sevensaidyesoutright,and75saidno.Thatmeansabout68%of participants,combiningtheyesandmayberesponses,areatleastopentoparticipatingin energyplanning Thelargenumberof“maybe”responsesisparticularlytelling Itdoes notreflectdisinterest Itreflectsacommunitythatwantstoengagebutfirstneeds moreinformation,morecontext,andprobablymoretrustthattheirparticipation willactuallymatter.
ThisconnectsdirectlytowhatwefoundinSectionIX.Nineoutoftencommunity memberssaidtheywanttoknowmoreaboutenergy.The“maybe”inQ35andthe informationgapinQ29aretellingthesamestory.Communitymembersarereadyto showup,buttheywanttocomeprepared.
WouldYouLiketoParticipateinEnergyPlanning?
PreferredWaystoParticipate
Thesurveyaskedcommunitymemberswhichwaysofparticipatingworkbestforthem asshowninthetablebelow Participantscouldselectmorethanoneanswer
Whatstandsouthereisthespread Thereisnosingledominantchannel Community memberswanttobemetinmultipleways,notjustone.Thishaspracticalimplications foranyfutureengagementeffort:reachingPunawellmeansusingamixofin-person, online,andself-pacedoptionsratherthanrelyingonanysingleapproach.
Thestrongshowingforin-persontalkalongsidedigitaloptionsalsoreflectswhatwe heardthroughoutthissurvey.CommunitymembersinPunavalueface-to-face connection.Atthesametime,manypeoplehaverealconstraintsontheirtimeand appreciatebeingabletoengageontheirownterms. PreferredWaystoParticipate
XII.DatatoInformaDraftCommunityBenefitsAgreement
ThissectionshareswhatcommunitymembersinPunasaidaboutenergydevelopment.It coverswhatkindsofdevelopmentfeelright,whatopportunitiestheysee,whatconcerns them,whatwouldmakethemostdifference,andwhattheywantfromanydeveloperwho comestoPuna.
ThesefindingsaremeanttoserveasafoundationforaCommunityBenefitsAgreement, aformaldocumentthatspellsoutwhatacommunityexpectsfromadeveloperbeforeany projectmovesforward.Thedataherereflectswhatcommunitymembersactuallysaid.It isnotafinalagreement.Itisastartingpointbuiltfromcommunityvoice.
WhatKindsofEnergyDevelopmentFeelRightforPuna
Communitymemberswereaskedtoselectthekindsofenergydevelopmentthatfeelright forPuna.Theycouldchoosemorethanone.Community-ownedsolarandbattery storagetoppedthelistbyaclearmargin.Thepreferenceforcommunity-scale,locally controlledoptionsoverlargeutility-scaledevelopmentrunsthroughthisdataand connectstothebroadervaluesofself-determinationandlocalcontrolthatcamethrough acrossthesurvey.
Oneinfourparticipantssaidtheydonotknowenoughtomakeaninformed decision.ThisconnectsdirectlytowhatweheardinSectionIX,wherenineoutoften communitymemberssaidtheywantmoreinformationaboutenergyoptions.Theappetite foreducationisrealanditshowsupheretoo.
Geothermalcameinat20%,tiedwithbiomass.Only3%saidnoneoftheabovefeelright forPuna,suggestingthatmostcommunitymembersareopentosomeformofenergy development,aslongasitalignswithcommunityvalues.
WhatKindsofEnergyDevelopmentFeelRightforPuna
WhatOpportunitiesCommunityMembersSeeinEnergyDevelopment
Communitymemberswereaskedwhatopportunitiestheyseeinenergydevelopmentfor Puna.Theresultsshowthatmostcommunitymembersdoseerealpotential,particularly aroundcost,jobs,andresilience.
Sevenintencommunitymembersselectedlowerandmorestableelectricitycostsas anopportunity.Thatisthesamevaluethatcamethroughinanothersection,where81% saidenergysuccessmeansaffordableenergyforeveryhousehold.Thethrough-lineis clear:energydevelopmentinPunawillbemostwelcomedwhenitbringscostsdownfor thepeoplewholivehere.
WhatConcernsCommunityMembersAboutEnergyDevelopment
Communitymemberswereaskedtoselecteverythingthatconcernsthemmostabout energydevelopmentinPuna.Theresponsesshowthatconcernisbroadandconsistent. Nosingleissuestandsoutabovetherest.Instead,aclusterofcloselyrelatedworries camethroughatnearlyequalstrength,withthetopfiveresponsesallfallingbetween 59%and62%.
Sacredland,outsidecontrol,profitoverpeople,agriculturalland,environmentalharm, lackofvoice,anddisplacementareallpartofthesamepictureformanycommunity membersinPuna.Theclosenessofthesenumbersmatters.Itmeansadevelopercannot addressoneconcernandexpecttheotherstogoaway.Theyallneedtobetaken seriously Only7%ofparticipantssaidtheyhavenomajorconcernsatthistime
WhatWouldMaketheMostDifference
Communitymemberswereasked:ifarenewableenergyprojectcametoPuna,what wouldmakethemostdifferencetoyourcommunity?Theresponsesshowthat communitymemberswanttangible,localbenefits,notjustcleanerenergy.
Lowerelectricitybillsforlocalcommunitymemberstoppedthelistat76%.Any energyprojectthatcomestoPunaanddoesnotmeaningfullyreducewhatcommunity memberspayforelectricitywillbehardtojustifytothepeoplewholivehere.
Communitymemberswereaskedwhatmattersmostwhendecidingwhetheranenergy developerisrightforPuna.Theresultsshowthatcommunitymembersarelookingfor transparency,accountability,andgenuinepartnershipthroughouttheentireprocess,not justatthestart.
Transparentsharingofplans,timelines,andfinancialstoppedthelistat59%.
Transparencyandaccountabilitywerethetoptwopriorities Communitymembersarenot simplyaskingtobeinformed Theyareaskingtobepartnersthroughout,withreal mechanismstoraiseconcernsandreallegalprotectionsthatcannotbeundone.
Itisalsoworthnotingplainlythat11%ofparticipantssaidtheywouldnottrustany outsidedeveloper.Thatisnotafringeview.Itreflectstherealandhistoricaldistrustthat comesfromdecadesofdecisionsbeingmadeaboutPunawithoutPuna.Anyenergy developmentprocessthatdoesnotacknowledgeandactivelyworktorebuildthattrust willfacerealcommunityresistance.
WhatMattersMostWhenEvaluatingaDeveloper
Clearaccountabilitystructuressothecommunitycantrackprogressand raiseconcernsatanystage
withcommunityapprovalrequired
XIII.Synthesis&KeyFindings
Thissectionbringstogetherthemajorthemesfromacrossthesurveyandthisreport.Itis meanttogiveaclearpictureofwhatcommunitymembersinPunashared,whatitmeans asawhole,andwhatitpointstoforanyoneinvolvedinenergyplanning,investment,or communitybenefitsdiscussionsinPuna. WhattheSurveyShowsOverall
Threehundredandfortycommunitymembersfrom24neighborhoodsacrossPunatook thetimetosharewhattheythink,feel,andneedwhenitcomestoenergy.Theycame fromeverygeneration,fromGenAlphatotheSilentGeneration.Aboutoneinthreehas livedinPunaformorethan20yearsorwasbornandraisedhere.Thesurveyreacheda multiracialcommunitythatreflectstherealdemographiccomplexityofPunatoday
Thiswasnotasurveyofpeoplewhowerealreadyengagedinenergyplanning 76%of participantssaidtheyhaveneverparticipatedinanyenergy-relatedactivity Mostsaid theyarenotfamiliarwiththeorganizationsworkingonenergyinHawaiʻi.And9outof 10saidtheywanttoknowmorebeforetheyfeelconfidentmakingdecisionsabout energy.
Whatthismeansisthatthe340voicesinthissurveyarelargelypeoplewhohavenot beenpartoftheconversationbefore.Thatmakestheirresponsesmorevaluable,not less.
TheLandComesFirst
Acrossnearlyeveryquestioninthissurvey,theconnectiontoʻāinacamefirst Nearly nineintencommunitymemberssaidtheland,forests,andnaturalenvironmentshould neverbelostorcompromised.Twointhreesaidenergythatprotectsandsupportsthe ʻāinaispartofwhatenergysuccesslookslike.Themostcommonconcernsaboutenergy developmentcenteredonharmtosacredplaces,agriculturalland,andthenatural environment.
Thisisnotapoliticalposition.Itisafoundationalvaluethatrunsacross generations,ethnicities,andneighborhoodsinPuna.Theʻāinaisnotjustscenery.For manycommunitymembersinPuna,itisidentity,sustenance,andresponsibility Any energyplanningthatdoesnotbeginfromthatunderstandingwillstruggletoearn communitytrust.
AffordabilityIstheFloor
Ifthereisonefindingthatstandsaboveallothersinthissurvey,itisthis:community membersinPunawantenergythatisaffordable.Eightintensaidaffordableenergyfor everyhouseholdiswhatenergysuccesslookslike.Threeinfoursaidlowerelectricity billswouldmakethemostdifferenceifarenewableenergyprojectcametoPuna About 60%saidtheyaresomewhat,very,orextremelyconcernedaboutthecostoftheir electricbillrightnow.
Affordabilityisnotjustonepriorityamongmany.Itisthefloor.Community membersarealreadystretchingtostayinPuna.Theyarealreadymanagingenergyusein creativeways,usingfansinsteadofairconditioning,takingshortershowers,installing efficientlighting,andinmanycasesgoingpartiallyorfullyoff-grid.Theyarenotasking tobesaved.Theyareaskingforasystemthatworkswiththeminsteadofagainstthem.
Anyenergydevelopmentthatdoesnotmeaningfullyreducewhatcommunity memberspayforelectricitywillbehardtojustifytothepeoplewholivehere.
Self-SufficiencyandLocalControlAreCoreValues
Thedesireforenergyindependencecamethroughconsistentlyacrossthesurvey Communitymemberswanttogeneratetheirownpower,collecttheirownwater,grow theirownfood,andlivewithlessdependenceonoutsidesystems.Sixty-fourpercentsaid theabilitytoliveoff-gridandself-sufficientlyissomethingthatshouldneverbelostin Puna.Fifty-threepercentsaidenergydecisionsmadebyandforPuna,notoutside companies,ispartofwhatenergysuccesslookslike.
Thisisnotafringeview.ItisavaluethatconnectsdirectlytoPuna’shistory, culture,andgeographicreality.Italsoreflectssomethingpractical.Punasitsattheend oflongtransmissionlines,inhighvolcanichazardzones,alongroadswithfew alternatives Self-sufficiencyisnotjustaculturalpreference Formanycommunity members,itisasurvivalstrategy
Community-ownedsolarandbatterystoragetoppedthelistofenergydevelopmenttypes thatfeelright.Large-scaleutility-scaleprojectscontrolledbyoutsidecompanieswere amongthetopconcerns.Thepreferenceisclear:small,local,community-controlled, andconnectedtotheland.
ListeningThroughHistory:HowthePastShapesEnergyConversationsin Puna
Thelong,turbulenthistoryofoccupation,development,andgeothermalenergyinPunais notbackgroundinformation.Itisthecontextthatshapeshowcommunitymembershear andrespondtoanyconversationaboutenergytoday.Decadesofprotests,lawsuits, unresolvedhealthconcerns,andapatternofdecisionsbeingmadewithoutinputfromthe communityhaveleftalastingmark The2018eruption,whichtemporarilyshutdown PGVandleftrecoverystillunfinishedyearslater,addedanotherlayertothatstory
Thesurveyreflectsthishistorydirectly.Sixty-twopercentsaidprojectsthatdisturb sacredorculturallysignificantplacesconcernthemmost.Sixty-onepercentsaidlarge utility-scaleprojectscontrolledbyoutsidecompaniesareaconcern.Elevenpercentsaid theywouldnottrustanyoutsidedeveloperatall.
Atthesametime,only3%saidnoformsofenergydevelopmentfeelrightforPuna. Mostcommunitymembersareopentodevelopment.Theyarejustaskingforitto bedonedifferentlythanithasbeendonebefore.Thepathforwardisnottopretendthe historydoesnotexist Itistoacknowledgeitandbuildfromthere
TheCommunityIsReady,ButNeedstoBeMetHalfway
Sixty-eightpercentofparticipantssaidtheyareeitherwillingoropentoparticipatingin energyplanningforPuna.Nearly100communitymembersprovidedtheircontact
informationexpressinginterestinacommunityvegetationandroad-clearingtaskforce. Abouthalfsaidtheywouldbewillingtocheckinonkūpunaandvulnerableneighbors afterstorms.Thesearenotpassiveresponsesandreflectacommunitythatwantstobe involved.
Thesurveyalsoshowsthatparticipationhastobeearned.Mostcommunitymembers haveneverbeenpartofanenergyconversationbefore Mostdonotfeelrepresentedby theorganizationscurrentlyworkingonenergyinHawaiʻi Ofthosewhohave participated,satisfactionwasmixedatbest.The“maybe”responseinQ35tellsthereal story:communitymembersareopen,buttheywantmoreinformation,more transparency,andmoreconfidencethattheirparticipationwillactuallymatter beforetheycommit.
Communitymembersalsoknowwhoisbeingleftout.Whenaskedwhosevoicesthey worrywillbemissed,theynamedkūpuna,KanakaMaoli,long-timeresidents, low-incomefamilies,keiki,andpeopleinruralareaswithoutinternetaccess.Astwo communitymembersputit:
“Kūpuna voices NEED to be heard because they know and understand the land better than anyone ”
“Generational families that have always been here They know the most and need to be heard.”
Anyfutureengagementthatreliesprimarilyondigitaloutreach,publichearings,or English-onlyformatswillmissexactlythevoicesthatcommunitymembers themselvessaymattermost.
WhatCommunityMembersWantFromEnergyDevelopment
Takentogether,thesurveypointstoaclearsetofcommunityprioritiesforenergy developmentinPuna
Bringcostsdown.Lowerelectricitybillsforeveryhouseholdarethesinglemost selectedcommunitybenefit.Affordableenergyisnotanice-to-have.Itisthestarting point.
Createlocaljobs.Communitymemberswantenergydevelopmenttogeneratereal economicopportunityforthepeoplewholivehere,withfairwagesandpaidtraining.
Protecttheʻāinaandculture.Sacredplaces,agriculturalland,andthenatural environmentmustbeprotected.Thesearenon-negotiableforalargemajorityof communitymembers.
Keepcontrollocal.Communitymemberswantenergydecisionstobemadebyandfor Puna,withgenuinecommunityinputthroughout,notjustatthebeginning.Theywant legalagreementsthatcannotbechangedwithoutcommunityconsentandaccountability structuresthatlastforthelifeoftheproject.
Supportfood,water,andcommunityresilience.Energysuccessmeansbackuppower forschoolsandhealthcenters,supportforfoodandwatersystems,andacommunitythat canfunctionwhenthegridgoesdown.
Buildtrust.Thecommunityhasalongmemorywhenitcomestobrokenpromisesand decisionsmadewithoutthem.Transparency,atrackrecord,andgenuineaccountability arenotoptional Theyarethefoundationofanysuccessfulpartnership
KeyImplicationsforPlanningandInvestment
Thedatainthisreportisspecific,consistent,andactionable.Hereiswhatitpointstofor anyoneworkingonenergyplanning,investment,orcommunitybenefitsinPuna.
Energyeducationisneedednow.Nineoutoftencommunitymemberswantmore information.Energyliteracyprograms,accessiblematerials,andcommunity-centered workshopsarenotpreparationforfutureengagement.Theyaretheworkitself.
Communityownershipmodelsdeserveseriousattention.Community-ownedsolar, batterystorage,microgrids,andenergycooperativeswerethetopchoices.Thesemodels deservegenuineexploration,notjustastalkingpointsbutasrealoptions
TheCommunityBenefitsAgreementprocessmuststartwithtrust,notpaperwork. ThedatafromSectionXIIgivesaclearpictureofwhatcommunitymembersexpectfrom adeveloper.Transparency,consultationthroughout,legalprotections,localhiring, andcommunityvetopoweroverdecisionsaffectingʻāinaandculturalresourcesare notnegotiatingpositions.Theyarebaselineexpectations.
Outreachmustreachthepeoplewhoarehardesttoreach.Kūpuna,KanakaMaoli, long-timeresidents,low-incomefamilies,andruralcommunitymemberswithoutinternet accessneeddedicated,in-person,accessibleoutreach.Thisreportrepresentsastrong start,butitshouldnotbetheend
Puna’sinfrastructurevulnerabilitiesarerealandurgent.Treesandvegetationon powerlinesarecausingthemajorityofoutages Nearlyhalfofcommunitymembersfeel onlysomewhatpreparedfordisasters.Affordablebackuppoweristhetoppreparedness need.Thesearesolvableproblemsthatdonotrequirewaitingforalargeenergyprojectto begin.
XIV.Appendices
Theappendicesincludesupportingmaterials,referencedocuments,andrawdatafromthe PunaClimateResilienceandEnergyTransitionengagementprocess.Allrawdatais storedinthedesignatedVibrantHawaiʻiGoogleDrivefolder.
AppendixA:PunaClimateResilience&EnergyTransitionSurvey
Thefullsurveyasadministered,includingall37questionsacross8sections.Thesurvey wasdesignedtounderstandPuna’scollectiveenergysituation,values,andvision,andto directlyshapeacommunityreportonenergytransitionpriorities.
Surveyavailableat:https://form.jotform.com/261130685584056
Shortlink:bit.ly/kocreate energy
PunaKōCreateCommunityLeaders:
MinaVirituaJr.,IkaikaRodenhurst,KeanuWilson,StephanieHaʻo,andKalehua Kukahiko
NoteonKaʻūKōCreateCommunityLeaders:
ThissurveywasdevelopedaspartofabroaderEnergyResilientCommunitiesinitiative alsoservingKaʻū.TheKaʻūKōCreateCommunityLeaders,KassieShibuyaandUʻilani Kailiwai,contributedtothesharedsurveydevelopmentprocessandareleadingaparallel engagementeffortinKaʻū.
With gratitude to Sustʻāinable Molokaʻi and the Molokaʻi Clean Energy Hui for their pioneering community energy engagement work, which served as a model for this survey
AppendixB:MolokaʻiCommunityEnergyResilienceActionPlan
Thefullcommunityenergyengagementreportthatservedasamodelforthisproject. DevelopedbytheMolokaʻiCleanEnergyHuibetween2021and2023,thisreport documentsacommunity-ledprocesstodetermineandcreateMolokaʻi’sownenergy solutions.
Fullreportandappendicesavailableat: https://molokaicleanenergyhuiorg/10-final-report/
AppendixC:FullSurveyDataset
Rawsurveydatafromall340responsesacrossall37questions.Dataisstoredinthe designatedVibrantHawaiʻiGoogleDrivefolder.Allresponsesareanonymousandwill onlybereportedinaggregate.
AppendixD:SupplementalDemographicandEnergyData
Additionaldatanotincludedinthemainreportbody,availableinthefulldataset:
Q10/Q10a/Q10b Howelectricityneedsarecurrentlymet;off-gridstatusandlength oftimeoff-grid;satisfactionwithoff-gridsetup
Q21 Reasonsneighborsmaynotaddressvegetationorpropertymaintenanceissues
Q31 Fullfamiliarityratingsforallsevenenergyorganizationslistedinthesurvey
AppendixE:SurveyOutreachMaterials
Printedmaterialsusedduringin-personoutreachevents,includingthesurveyflyerand QRcodescansheetdistributedatMakuʻuMarket,ActivatePuna,andtheKeaʻauHigh SchoolCougarNightMarket
AppendixF:OutreachEventPhotos
Photosfromoutreacheventsconductedaspartofthisengagement,includingthe EmergencyPreparednessFairatMakuʻuMarketonApril26,2026,andtheActivate PunaBlockPartyinPāhoaonMay8,2026.PhotosshowtheVibrantHawaiʻiteamatthe surveybooth,communitymemberscompletingsurveysontablets,thekeikiactivityarea, andfamiliesparticipatingintheprocess.
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9 Ibid.
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