Hawaiian Electric, Pacific Biodiesel partner for holiday rice drive, recipe contest

Hawaiian Electric and Pacific Biodiesel are teaming up for the holidays to support local food banks and encourage local ingredients for holiday recipes.

That collaboration — Kākou for the Holidays — includes a rice drive and holiday recipe contest.

Hawaiian Electric Vice President of Power Supply Mike DeCaprio said the collaboration is also a celebration of the partnership between the two firms — with Hawaiian Electric using locally sourced biofuel and Pacific Biodiesel using the Hawaiian Electric grid.

“Kākou for the Holidays is a way for us to come together to support our communities and honor our companies working together for clean energy in Hawai‘i,” said DeCaprio in an announcement for the upcoming events.

Employees of both companies are participating in the rice drive to collect bags and boxes of rice — not only a staple for local families but also one of the most requested items at food banks — for donation to food banks on each island.

“The holiday season is a critical time for food banks, and the government shutdown has increased food needs across our communities,” said Pacific Biodiesel Director of Operations Jenna Long in the announcement. “We’re honored to partner with Hawaiian Electric to support local food banks and we encourage folks to consider donating to the food banks now more than ever.”

Pacific Biodiesel employees donated nearly 600 pounds of rice to food banks throughout the state during their first holiday rice drive last year.

Hawaiian Electric’s 2,500 employees join the drive, along with Pacific Biodiesel founders Bob and Kelly King donating to each island’s food bank a supply of new Kuleana Hawaiʻi Grown Sunflower Oil — produced from the sunflowers Pacific Biodiesel farms on Kauaʻi and Maui.

The holiday recipe contest runs through Dec. 15.

Recipes must be prepared with local ingredients and can include recipes from Hawaiian Electric’s “The Electric Kitchen” recipe collection on the company’s website.

Pacific Biodiesel reminds the community to recycle — not discard down the drain — household cooking oil leftover from holiday meal preparation. Locations that accept household cooking oil can be found online.

Hawaiian Electric will randomly select five prize winners from all qualified “Kākou for the Holidays” Recipe Contest entrants. Winners will each receive a Hawaiian Electric tumbler and a bottled set of 8.5 oz Kuleana Hawaiʻi Grown Sunflower Oil and Macadamia Oil.

Visit the Hawaiian Electric or Pacific Biodiesel websites for information about the contest or to learn how you can support island food banks this holiday season.