Living in East Oahu, I have personally experienced the frequent power outages that come with bad weather such as the recent Kona storms. It's a situation many of us here on the island are all too familiar with, and it's becoming unbearable. Our community often finds itself in darkness and without crucial utilities during storms, which poses not only an inconvenience but a significant safety risk. I believe it's time to make a change.

Hawaii's power infrastructure is outdated and ill-prepared to handle our increasing weather-related challenges, which are only getting worse with climate change. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, Hawaii relies heavily on imported fossil fuels to generate electricity, making our system not only environmentally but also economically unsustainable. Furthermore, the lack of infrastructure investment has left us vulnerable to frequent disruptions.

Improving our power grid will not only prevent these outages but also support our transition to more sustainable energy sources. By investing in renewable energy solutions like solar and wind, and modernizing our grid, we can reduce our dependency on external sources and increase our resilience. It is imperative that we demand that local authorities prioritize this issue and take immediate action to overhaul our power infrastructure.

We need a commitment from Hawaii's leaders to allocate funds for infrastructure improvements and to create policies that encourage the development of sustainable and resilient energy systems. This can be done through strategic partnerships with energy companies and the usage of federal and state grants aimed at improving energy efficiency and reliability.

Every resident and business owner in Hawaii deserves a reliable power system. Join me in urging our state and local representatives to take bold steps towards revamping our power infrastructure. Sign this petition to advocate for a stronger, more sustainable future for Hawaii.

THANK YOU!