National Drive Electric Week
He Ala Hou EV and Sustainability Fair
Hilo, HI
Sep 23, 2023
He Ala Hou EV and Sustainability Fair
Hilo, HI
Sep 23, 2023
| Day: | Saturday, September 23, 2023 NOTE: this event has already happened, find current-year events on the Attend page. |
| Time: | 10:00 am - 2:00 pm HST |
| Location: | Prince Kuhio Mall 111 East Puainako Street Hilo, HI 96720 |
Event Report
Big Island EV, Hawaiian Electric, and Sustainable Energy Hawaii hosted National Drive Electric Week 2023 event (He Ala Pono Electric Vehicle and Sustainability Fair) at the Prince Kuhio Plaza in Hilo on September 23.
This year, we held two events in parallel – a car show in the mall parking lot and an indoor sustainability fair.
Our outdoor car was well-visited. About 150 guests came by to check out the owner and dealer EVs: the BMW i4, BMW iX, Chevy Bolt, Kia EV6, Kia Niro EV, Tesla Model 3, Ford Mach-E, Ford, Tesla Model X, Tesla Model Y, Tesla Roadster, Tesla Model S, Toyota Prius Prime, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Hyundai Ioniq 6, Hyundai Kona EV, and Subaru Solterra.
The indoor EV and Sustainability Fair ran from 10 AM – 2 PM and featured the Nissan Arriya, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Hyundai Ioniq 6, and Jeep Cherokee 4xe. Additionally, several organizations shared their mission, activities, information, and programs. They included the American Red Cross Pacific Region, Citizens Climate Lobby – Hawaii Island, County of Hawaii, Hawaiian Electric, Hawaii Community College, Hawaii Energy, Hawaii Farm Trails, Hawaii Island Realtors, NexTech Hawaii, Sustainable Energy Hawaii, and United Nations Association USA Hawaii Island.
The event started with a blessing by Kumu Moses Kahoʻokele Crabbe and a keynote by County of Hawaii Mayor Mitch Roth.
Mayor Roth with his County NDEW2023 Proclamation.
A local radio station DJ was at the event for 2 hours and broadcast live. She also interviewed dealers and vendors and repeatedly invited the public to join on two radio stations.
Many guests stayed through the end of the event to participate in an electric bike giveaway.
Prize winners
Our e-bike winner!
photo by: Gary Miller Scene from our outdoor car show. |
Event Description
Big Island EV Association, Hawaiian Electric, and Sustainable Energy Hawaii are hosting the second annual He Ala Pono Electric Vehicle and Sustainability Fair, celebrating National Drive Electric Week and sustainability on Hawaii Island. We will have two events:
Outdoor Car Show (10 - Noon Only. Parking area fronting the former SEARS, Makaala St. entrance)
This will be primarily an owners’ meet-up and the opportunity for them to share their cars and their experiences with the public. BMW of Hawaii, Orchid Isle Auto Center (Ford), Aloha Kia, and Big Island Motors (Hyundai and Subaru) will also have vehicles on display.
The cars that we expect at this show include the BMW i4, BMW iX, Chevy Bolt, Kia EV6, Kia Niro, Tesla Model 3, Ford Mach-E, Ford Lighting (planned), Tesla Model X, Tesla Model Y, Tesla Roadster, Tesla Model S, Toyota Prius Prime, and Subaru Solterra. (Schedule-permitting, an owner will bring a Rivian.)
A couple of popular food trucks will be in the vicinity.
EV and Sustainability Fair (10 AM - 2 PM, Prince Kuhio Plaza, Petco end of mall)
Big Island Motors, Kamaaina Nissan, Kamaaina Motors, Orchid Isle Auto Center, and Big Island Personal Tours will have vehicles on display, including the Hyundai Ioniq 6, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Nissan Arriya, Jeep Cherokee 4xe, Ford Mach-e, and electric bikes.
Several organizations focused on sustainability, climate, and resilience will be present to share their mission, activities, information, and programs:
- American Red Cross Pacific Region – Community Resilience – disaster preparedness and response
- Big Island EV Association and Tesla Hawaii Club – Electric vehicle information – cars, rebates, incentives
- Citizens Climate Lobby – Hawaii Island – Climate Policy Advocacy, Climate Education
- County of Hawaii – County’s sustainability efforts. Information about the new Office of Sustainability, Climate, Equity, and Resilience.
- Hawaiian Electric – Clean energy, Electrification of Transportation, EV Charging Stations
- Hawaii Community College – Food and Forestry
- Hawaii Energy – Energy Efficiency Programs
- Hawaii Farm Trails – Agriculture
- Hawaii Island Realtors – Green Homes
- NexTech Hawaii – Youth education, STEAM, program information
- Sustainable Energy Hawaii – Energy resilience and sustainability
- United Nations Association USA Hawaii Island – Climate action, UN Sustainable Development Goals
A Passport Raffle will also be held for prizes, including a new e-bike!
There is no fee to participate, and the public is invited.
Registered Attendees
There are currently 50 attendees registered.
Owners of These Vehicles Have Registered To Attend
| Vehicle | Registered |
|---|---|
| Chevrolet Bolt | 2 |
| Ford Mustang Mach-E | 2 |
| Kia Niro Electric | 2 |
| Tesla Model 3 | 2 |
| BMW i3 REx | 1 |
| BMW i4 | 1 |
| Hyundai Ioniq 5 | 1 |
| Kia EV6 | 1 |
| Nissan Leaf (2011-2017) | 1 |
| Nissan Leaf (2018+) | 1 |
| Tesla Model X | 1 |
| Tesla Model Y | 1 |
| Tesla Roadster | 1 |
| Toyota Prius Prime | 1 |
| 14 Models | 18 |
Registered attendees report 607,971 electric miles driven.
