BeyondKONA Mission

BeyondKONA.com is a community web site designed to inform and promote Hawaiian values of caring for our aina by advancing and achieving an environmentally sustainable and economically viable 100% clean energy economy. In fulfillment of this mission, BeyondKONA.com features daily news developments, issue education, research and analysis, along with expert commentary on key issues impacting Hawai’i and the world: climate change, clean energy, technology advances, and significant environmental, social, and political developments.

BeyondKONA

Bill Bugbee, Publisher

BeyondKONA (2018 – )

Bill relocated to Hawai’i in 2013. He has committed time and resources in assisting Hawaii’s advancement to a sustainable environment and clean energy economy. His volunteer activities are highlighted by three years as a board director of the all-volunteer and non-profit Community Enterprises, providing leadership and growth to the organization’s West Hawai’i Forums series, which explored issues of interest to the community and greater Hawaii. By 2018, Bill had left Community Enterprises to dedicate his time to BeyondKona and other community volunteer support activities.

In July 2018, Bill launched a new online publication, BeyondKONA with the mission to inform, organize, and promote community leadership and civic activism towards a sustainable and equitable future for Hawaii.

BeyondKONA seeks to further enable and advance our island communities access to decisive information resources which may assist in the ongoing citizen task of participating in the development of meaningful public policies and economic opportunities that advance Hawaii’s clean energy economy, statewide sustainability, while protecting and preserving Hawaii’s ʻāina.

Bill also continues to serve community interests in his volunteer support capacities as the chairperson of Hawaii’s Clean Power Task Force https://www.hawaiichangeagents.org/cleanpower, and since 2019, as a board member of the statewide organization Hawaii Electric Vehicle Association: https://hawaiiev.org/

– BeyondKona, Contributing Editors –

Henry Curtis – Contributing Editor

Henry Curtis is Executive Director and Vice President of Life of the Land, Hawaii’s own energy, environmental, and community action group. For nearly four decades, the group has advocated for the people of Hawai’i and`aina. Pursuing its mission to preserve and protect the environment, Life of the Land advocates sound energy and land use policies. The group fulfills is mission by promoting open government through research, education, advocacy, and litigation.
As an expert testifier on Hawaii’s energy policy, Henry has participated in over 50 regulatory proceedings before the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), and in various capacities for Life of the Land, Vice President of Puna Pono Alliance (PPA), and a member of the Board of Directors of Hui Aloha ‘Āina o Ka Lei Maile Ali`i (KLMA).
Henry is committed to Hawaii’s energy self-reliance and well-being – a commitment motivated by the values of aloha `aina, malama `aina and his love for Hawai`i nei.
Henry is also a founder and journalist with ililani media (Honolulu), a digital magazine and blog focused on Hawai’i state developments in science, technology, engineering, energy, climate change, justice, and politics.
He has a B.A., and all-but-thesis work towards an M.A., in Economics from Queens College, City University of New York.

Noel Morin – Contributing Editor

Noel Morin is President of the Big Island Electric Vehicle Association (BIEVA), a grassroots organization that is dedicated to increasing the adoption of sustainable transportation on Hawaii Island. Noel also is a presiding board member of Hawaii EV Association, a statewide electric vehicle owner and advocacy group.
Noel works with a great team of volunteers to educate our Hawai’i Island residents and the public about the advantages of electric cars.
Noel is a Silicon Valley product management veteran and a Big Island resident since 2004. He is a climate action advocate and a supporter of sustainable transportation and renewable energy. Noel is President of Hawaii EV and Big Island EV Association, Tesla Hawaii Club Director for Hawaii Island, Co-Lead for Hawaii Island Citizens Climate Lobby, Climate Reality Leadership Corps volunteer, and board member for the Hawaii Red Cross and Sustainable Energy Hawaii.
Noel ‘walks the talk’ – he powers his home and electric cars with solar energy. He’s been driving electric since 2011.

Steve Holmes – Contributing Editor

U.S Department of Energy National Energy Champion
Energy & Sustainability Coordinator for Honolulu
Honolulu City Councilmember (12 years)
Hawaii State Energy Office analyst
Rebuild America Partnership Leader of the Year

Isaac Moriwake – Contributing Editor

Isaac Moriwake is a Managing Attorney with EarthJustice, based n their Mid-Pacific office, Honolulu, Hawai’i.
With over a decade of experience litigating before federal and state courts and agencies, Isaac has worked on a range of issues facing Hawai’i, including Native Hawaiian rights, shoreline protection, endangered species, environmental health and disclosure, water rights, and last, but not least, the Hawaii’s transition and advancement to a clean energy economy.
An expert on the energy sector and laws governing utilities, Isaac has testified presented before Hawaii’s Public Utility Commission a number of times on energy issues impacting Hawaii’s social, economic, and environmental transition to a 100% clean and renewable energy future by 2045.
Isaac graduated from Pomona College in International Relations, and from the William S. Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawaiʻi. After law school, he clerked for Justice Paula A. Nakayama of the Supreme Court of the State of Hawaiʻi.

Will Rolston – Contributing Editor

Will Rolston has 33 years’ experience in the energy field as a power engineer, energy analyst and investor. He started as a power generation engineer for Siemens-Westinghouse with a concentration on utility and IPP energy project development.
Will has served as the State and County of Hawai`i for the past 11 years, in his capacity as both the state’s Renewable Projects Administrator for the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority, and for Hawai’i County, as the county’s Energy Coordinator.
In May 2018, Will returned to private practice as Director of Energy Island, providing energy consulting services in the areas of renewable energy project development, sustainable community solutions, and regulatory & environmental policy within Hawai’i.
Earlier in his career, Will served as an energy analyst & trader for Janus Capital High-Yield Portfolio Manager and then a partner in several private equity firms. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Pennsylvania State University and a Masters in Business Administration from Florida Institute of Technology.

BeyondKONA, OUR MISSION

Welcome to BeyondKona, a community web site designed to inform, educate, and promote Hawaiian values of caring for our aina.

BeyondKona’s mission is to advance an environmentally sustainable and 100% clean energy economy for Hawai’i.

BeyondKona.com features daily news, research and analysis, commentary and community conversation focused on Hawaii’s changing climate, growing clean energy economy, and the environmental, social, and political elements which are shaping life in Hawai’i and around the world.