Aloha,

37 Minutes. That’s all the time it took for our dedicated Hawaiʻi Gas crew to learn of a customer in desperate need of help and then find a solution when no one else could.

Last month, the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Hawaiʻi’s (RMHC-HI) Judd Hillside facility learned that their water heater was not functioning properly and could not be repaired. The facility, located in Manoa Valley, can host up to seven local families as they seek medical care for family members on Oʻahu. Their water heater is an essential part of their service since it is used for cooking, showering, cleaning and sanitizing.

After making several inquiries to local suppliers, they were told that a replacement water heater large enough to serve the needs of the facility would take a minimum of 6-8 weeks to ship here from the Mainland. A delay that long would have caused the facility to shut down and prevent families from utilizing the services available to them through the Ronald McDonald House.

Eventually, the RMHC-HI reached out to Hawaiʻi Gas for assistance. “The call came in on a Friday at 2:17 p.m.,” remembers Liana Vossen, a weekend relief house manager at RMCH-HI, and full-time employee of Hawaiʻi Gas. “We worked with our Operations Division to troubleshoot the situation, and by 2:54 p.m. Jared Pasalo, our Customer Service Division Manager, was able to secure a replacement gas water heater and schedule a delivery and installation,” Liana added. The following Monday, Hawaiʻi Gas crews were on-site to install the much-needed gas water heater.

Because of the quick work and dedication of our Hawaiʻi Gas team, the RMHC-HI Judd Hillside facility was able to remain open and provide a safe, warm and loving place to stay for families tending to their loved ones.

Gas Safety During an Emergency

Natural disasters and other emergencies can strike at any time and most times with little or no warning. Know what to do with your gas service when an emergency hits!

During an Emergency:

Keep your gas equipment where it is. Do not move your canisters, tanks or cylinders. You can secure the equipment with tie-downs, but do not physically move the gas equipment from where it is located.
Shut off your gas ONLY if you are evacuating your home and it is safe to do so; you are advised to do so by emergency management officials or Hawaiʻi Gas as part of a mandatory evacuation; you smell gas in the vicinity.
Otherwise, we recommend that gas customers keep their gas service on.

Here's how to shut off your gas service for the types of meters we typically use:

Keep Your Family Safe

Julie Yunker
Director of Sustainability, Government & Community Relations

We’re proud to announce that our very own Julie Yunker was recently selected to be part of the 2022-2023 Patsy T. Mink Leadership Alliance. A program of the YWCA Oʻahu, the Leadership Alliance was launched in 2016 and is a 10-month track designed for emerging women leaders who are committed to personal growth, professional impact, and community change.

As part of the Alliance, Julie will join 129 current and past women leaders from diverse fields such as finance, healthcare, technology and law in their collective pursuit of developing the leadership skills needed to increase the representation of women executives in Hawaiʻi. The program was named in honor of the late Patsy T. Mink, who was both the first Asian-American woman and the first woman from Hawaiʻi to serve in the U.S. Congress. She was renowned for her commitment to proactive leadership and women’s advocacy.

"Sharing Uchinanchu Aloha"

The Hawaiʻi United Okinawan Association's 40th Annual Okinawan Festival will be held September 3 - 4, 2022 at the Hawaiʻi Convention Center. There will be a bon dance, beautiful performances, cultural exhibits, a country store, and more. Join the fun and come get your fix of authentic food like Okinawan soba and andagi...all cooked with clean and efficient gas supplied by Hawaiʻi Gas!

General admission is $10 for adults, $5 for seniors 65+, and free for children 12 and younger.

Okinawan Festival Info

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