Hawaiian Electric Industries history

In 1891 King Kalakaua died of a stroke, and agitation for union with the United States intensified after Queen Liliuokalani ascended to the throne.

Pro-annexation forces deposed the queen and formed a provisional government in 1893.

Before the advent of the electric refrigerator, the company used its excess capacity to manufacture ice, beginning in 1894.

HECO extended light and power service to Waikiki in 1897 and used the proceeds from additional stock offers to buy a 2,000-volt generator.

When HECO's franchise from the provisional government ran out in 1904, the company requested a new contract from the United States government.

By 1906, HECO had registered over 2,500 customers, who used 500,000 kilowatts of electricity annually.

The company increased its capacity with the installation of Hawaii's first steam-driven turbine, a 750-kilowatt steam turbo-generator, in 1908.

The legislature passed the bill, but when Hawaii's governor vetoed it, the bill was returned to the legislature, where anti-HECO representatives won out in 1913.

By 1914 HECO had started rural service to the windward side of the island and was marketing electric products like refrigerators and flat irons.

In 1915, the company also opened a merchandising department that sold electric appliances, like the newly introduced refrigerator.

In 1922 HECO added a 10,000-kilowatt generating unit, continuing the expansion of electrification to more isolated regions in the mountains of Oahu.

Hawaiian Electric's King Street building opened for business on July 25, 1927.

By 1931, the company claimed 40,650 residential customers and profits nearing $100,000.

Groundbreaking at Waiau Power Plant in 1937.

The first unit at the Waiau Generating Station goes online in 1938.