Waikā Consulting’s $5 Million Geothermal Bid Rekindles Old Tensions in Hawaiʻi’s Clean Energy Transition
Hawaiʻi’s Geothermal Gamble: Balancing Clean Energy Ambitions with Cultural Integrity By: Robert Buluma In Hawaiʻi’s pursuit of a 100% renewable energy future by 2045, few energy options inspire as much promise — or controversy — as geothermal. This week, that tension resurfaced when Waika Consulting a geothermal development firm, requested a $5 million investment from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) in exchange for a stake in a $275 million geothermal project. The proposal, presented by Waikā President Ryan Matsumoto and former OHA Trustee Mililani Trask, promises substantial financial returns for Native Hawaiians. Yet, it also reopens old debates about environmental safety, cultural values, and trust in geothermal governance. A High-Stakes Investment Pitch Waikā’s plan positions geothermal not merely as a clean energy source, but as a vehicle for Native Hawaiian economic empowerment. The firm estimates that OHA’s $5 million stake could yield $25–$50 million in returns over...