Hawaii Island companies partner to bring fuel to area hit hard by Hurricane Lala

HILO (HawaiiNewsNow) – Two local companies are partnering to bring fuel to hundreds of Hawaii Island residents still relying on portable generators after Hurricane Lala.

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Island Energy Services donated 4,000 gallons of fuel to the effort, and Big Island Energy is providing transportation and logistics.

The companies will begin distributing fuel at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Kurtistown Samoan and English Seventh-day Adventist Church. They’ll also be at the former Kamei Gas Station site on Kamani Street in Pahala on Friday beginning at 1 p.m.

“Our employees take great pride in helping make life better for Hawaiʻi, and seeing the devastation caused by Hurricane Lala compelled us to find a way to help,” said Albert Chee, vice president of policy, government, and public affairs at IES.

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As of Thursday morning, 1,425 customers on Hawaii Island were still without power. Hawaiian Electric says it could take until Sept. 8 before some areas of Naalehu and Pahala have their power fully restored.

“Our employees and ʻohana call Hawaiʻi Island home, and we are proud to support the communities we are part of every day. The challenges many residents and communities are facing across the island only reinforce our commitment to help where we can,” said Big Island Energy CEO Sandy Baz.

The companies are working with government and community partners to make the distribution possible.

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