HE (no L no CO) would like your cooperation

[ChunksterK]

I read elsewhere that the problem is not PGV, but an independent supplier with an oil fired generator.

Of course, the bigger problem is that we have an incompetent electric utility that is statutorially guananteed a profit, no mater how badly they perform.

You may like to check out the following video describing how Hawaii's electric grid works in order to gain a better understanding of some of the challenges that an isolated island utility has to deal with:
How the Hawaiian Power Grid Works

Of course there are challenges related to being a rock in the middle of an ocean, but a case can be made that HELCO deals poorly with them.  They are blaming the current issues on an "outside" provider that isn't what they say it is.  Hugh Baker, a utility industy expert with 40 years experience published an op-ed piece in today's Hilo newspaper that says in part:

"The plant referenced by Hawaiian Electric is the Hamakua Energy Partners (HEP) 60-megawatt oil-fired power plant located in Honokaa.  Since 2017, HEP has been owned and operated by a company called Pacific Current (pacificcurrenthawaii. com/project/hamakua/).  Pacific Current is a wholly- owned subsidiary of Hawaiian Electric Industries (HEI) and is therefore an affiliate of Hawaiian Electric Co. since the utility is also wholly-owned by HEI (www. hei.com/company-profile/ about-pacific-current/)."

Having said all that, I will add in fairness that our totally dysfunctional state government adds to the challenges on both a legislative and regulatory level.