Hawaiian Airlines Engages Employees in Energy Efficiency Practices

Hawaiian Airlines is using its COVID-19 pandemic return-to-work plan as an opportunity to engage employees on best practices in energy efficiency, showing how each individual can make an impact. In 2018, Hawaiian Airlines joined with Hawaii Energy to be a participant in the Continuous Energy Improvement (CEI) program, later renamed the Hawaii Energy Strategic Energy Management (SEM) Program. One of Hawaiian’s first activities as a part of this program was to conduct an ‘energy treasure hunt.’ Since Hawaiian Airlines’ corporate office had been recently renovated with modern, energy efficient systems, Hawaii Energy recommended the company focus on behavioral changes to lower energy use. 

In 2021, with nearly all office employees working remotely, the Hawaiian Airlines energy team collaborated with the corporate communications and brand teams to roll out a plan for employee engagement activities.

• Earth Day poster contest  
• Home energy-saving ideas contest; ideas were shared company-wide​
• Office energy-saving tips video
• “Reduce, Re-use and Recycle” aircraft building contest

The home energy-saving ideas contest had 61 participants, a significant increase from the Earth Day poster contest.  Each employee that submitted three ideas was entered into a raffle for a 2-night stay at the ‘Alohilani Resort, which was recently renovated with new, highly-efficient energy systems. The resort is part of the same local SEM program cohort, so the two organizations partnered on employee prizes; Hawaiian Airline offered HawaiianMiles for one of the resort’s employee engagement programs. Hawaiian Airlines is sharing the energy ideas provided by employees through internal communications and encouraging staff to implement them both at home and in the workplace.

In August 2021, Hawaiian Airlines launched an office energy-saving tips video, which rotates on TV monitors throughout break areas. It also distributed the video through the internal employee email communication.