Hawaii Water Service Operations Manager Recognized Nationally for Response During Lahaina Fire
John (Kani) Kadowaki, Maui Operations Manager of Hawaii Water Service, a subsidiary of California Water Service Group (NYSE: CWT), has been honored with the Living Water Award by the National Association of Water Companies. This recognition comes for his exceptional leadership during the Lahaina wildfire in 2023. Despite personal impact from the fire, Kadowaki led his team to maintain uninterrupted water supply in Ka'anapali and Kapalua service areas, supporting firefighters, residents, and displaced individuals.
Under Kadowaki's guidance, Hawaii Water was the only water provider in West Maui that avoided implementing a boil water advisory or experiencing service outages during and after the tragedy. This was achieved despite significant challenges including communication disruptions, power outages, and access to fuel for generators.
John (Kani) Kadowaki, il responsabile delle operazioni di Maui per Hawaii Water Service, una filiale di California Water Service Group (NYSE: CWT), è stato onorato con il Living Water Award dall'Associazione Nazionale delle Aziende Idriche. Questo riconoscimento arriva per la sua leadership eccezionale durante il incendio di Lahaina nel 2023. Nonostante l'impatto personale del fuoco, Kadowaki ha guidato il suo team per mantenere un approvvigionamento idrico ininterrotto nelle aree di servizio di Ka'anapali e Kapalua, supportando i vigili del fuoco, i residenti e le persone sfollate.
Sotto la guida di Kadowaki, Hawaii Water è stato l'unico fornitore di acqua a West Maui che ha evitato di implementare un avviso di ebollizione dell'acqua o di sperimentare interruzioni del servizio durante e dopo la tragedia. Questo è stato raggiunto nonostante le significative sfide, tra cui interruzioni nelle comunicazioni, interruzioni di corrente e accesso al carburante per i generatori.
John (Kani) Kadowaki, Gerente de Operaciones de Maui de Hawaii Water Service, una subsidiaria de California Water Service Group (NYSE: CWT), ha sido galardonado con el Living Water Award por la Asociación Nacional de Empresas de Agua. Este reconocimiento llega por su excepcional liderazgo durante el incendio de Lahaina en 2023. A pesar del impacto personal del fuego, Kadowaki lideró a su equipo para mantener un suministro de agua ininterrumpido en las áreas de servicio de Ka'anapali y Kapalua, apoyando a los bomberos, residentes y personas desplazadas.
Bajo la dirección de Kadowaki, Hawaii Water fue el único proveedor de agua en West Maui que evitó implementar un aviso de ebullición de agua o experimentar cortes de servicio durante y después de la tragedia. Esto se logró a pesar de los desafíos significativos, que incluían interrupciones en las comunicaciones, cortes de energía y acceso al combustible para generadores.
존 (카니) 카도와키, 하와이 워터 서비스의 마우이 운영 관리자이자 캘리포니아 워터 서비스 그룹 (NYSE: CWT)의 자회사,는 전국 물 회사 협회로부터 리빙 워터 어워드를 수상했습니다. 이 인식은 2023년 라하이나 산불 동안 그의 뛰어난 리더십을 반영합니다. 화재의 개인적인 영향에도 불구하고 카도와키는 팀을 이끌어 끊임없는 수돗물 공급을 카아나팔리와 카팔루아 서비스 지역에서 유지하였으며, 소방관, 주민 및 이재민들을 지원했습니다.
카도와키의 지도 아래, 하와이 워터는 웨스트 마우이에서 유일한 수자원 공급업체로서 비탄 중 또는 이후에 물 끓이는 경고를 발령하거나 서비스 중단을 겪지 않았습니다. 이는 통신 중단, 정전, 발전기용 연료 접근 문제라는 상당한 도전에도 불구하고 달성되었습니다.
John (Kani) Kadowaki, Directeur des opérations de Maui pour Hawaii Water Service, une filiale de California Water Service Group (NYSE: CWT), a reçu le Living Water Award de l'Association nationale des entreprises de l'eau. Cette reconnaissance est due à son leadership exceptionnel durant le incendie de Lahaina en 2023. Malgré l'impact personnel causé par le feu, Kadowaki a dirigé son équipe pour maintenir un approvisionnement en eau ininterrompu dans les zones de service de Ka'anapali et Kapalua, soutenant les pompiers, les résidents et les personnes déplacées.
Sous la direction de Kadowaki, Hawaii Water était le seul fournisseur d'eau à West Maui à avoir évité de mettre en œuvre un avis de ébullition de l'eau ou de subir des coupures de service pendant et après la tragédie. Cela a été réalisé malgré des défis importants, tels que des interruptions de communication, des pannes de courant et l'accès au carburant pour les générateurs.
John (Kani) Kadowaki, Betriebsleiter von Maui bei Hawaii Water Service, einer Tochtergesellschaft der California Water Service Group (NYSE: CWT), wurde mit dem Living Water Award der Nationalen Vereinigung der Wasserunternehmen ausgezeichnet. Diese Anerkennung erfolgt für seine außergewöhnliche Führung während des Waldbrandes in Lahaina im Jahr 2023. Trotz der persönlichen Auswirkungen des Feuers leitete Kadowaki sein Team, um eine ununterbrochene Wasserversorgung in den Versorgungsgebieten Ka'anapali und Kapalua aufrechtzuerhalten und unterstützte Feuerwehrleute, Anwohner und vertriebene Personen.
Unter Kadowakis Führung war Hawaii Water der einzige Wasseranbieter in West Maui, der während und nach der Tragödie keinen Hinweis auf Wasserkochen oder Dienstunterbrechungen ausgeben musste. Dies wurde trotz erheblicher Herausforderungen wie Kommunikationsunterbrechungen, Stromausfällen und Zugang zu Treibstoff für Generatoren erreicht.
- Hawaii Water maintained uninterrupted water supply during the Lahaina wildfire
- No boil water advisory or service outages implemented in Hawaii Water's service areas
- Company's efforts potentially prevented fire spread to additional areas of West Maui
- None.
Insights
Kadowaki's exceptional leadership during the Lahaina wildfire underscores the critical role of water utility managers in disaster response. His ability to maintain water supply in Ka'anapali and Kapalua without implementing a boil water advisory is remarkable, especially given the challenging circumstances. This achievement highlights the importance of resilient infrastructure and well-trained personnel in crisis situations.
The recognition from NAWC elevates Hawaii Water's reputation in the industry, potentially strengthening its position for future contracts or regulatory considerations. However, the direct financial impact on California Water Service Group (NYSE: CWT) is likely minimal. Investors should view this as a positive indicator of the company's operational excellence and crisis management capabilities, which could translate to long-term stability and customer trust.
Kadowaki's response during the Lahaina fire exemplifies best practices in emergency management. His team's ability to maintain water service amidst communication breakdowns, power outages and fuel shortages demonstrates exceptional preparedness and adaptability. This case study could influence industry standards for disaster response protocols.
For investors, this showcases California Water Service Group's robust risk management and operational resilience. In an era of increasing climate-related disasters, such capabilities can be a significant differentiator. It may lead to lower insurance premiums and potentially higher valuation multiples due to reduced operational risk. However, the immediate financial impact is likely negligible, making this more of a long-term consideration for stakeholders.
SAN JOSE, Calif., Sept. 10, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- (NYSE: CWT)—For his leadership to keep water flowing to his local communities during the devastating Lahaina wildfire last year, the National Association of Water Companies (NAWC) honored John (Kani) Kadowaki with the Living Water Award during its annual Water Summit today. Kadowaki is the Maui Operations Manager of Hawaii Water Service (Hawaii Water), a subsidiary of California Water Service Group (Group).
The Living Water Award is presented to the regulated water industry professional who best demonstrates excellence in serving the community, colleagues, the industry, or the environment. Although Kadowaki’s own family and home were impacted by the wildfire, he stayed to lead his small but dedicated team of water system operators to keep providing a safe, reliable supply of water to the utility’s Ka’anapali and Kapalua service areas, both during and after the fires.
Kadowaki was instrumental in overseeing operations—which was short-staffed due to team members being impacted by the fire—to provide a steady source of water to firefighters trying to stop the fire in Lahaina from spreading into adjacent Ka’anapali and beyond, to residents, and to hotels that were housing both tourists and displaced locals. Under his leadership, Hawaii Water became the only water provider in West Maui that did not need to implement a boil water advisory or experience water service outages during and after the tragedy. Kadowaki and his team accomplished this despite significant challenges, such as the prolonged lack of reception for cell phones, satellite phones, and two-way radios; widespread power outages; extremely limited access to diesel fuel to run generators that were critical to keep the water systems online; worry about their families and homes; and a lack of sleep.
“The devastation and loss witnessed in the Lahaina Fire were truly unfathomable, and although his own family was impacted, Kani’s aloha for his community compelled him to lead his team and keep safe, clean water flowing to our customers and community,” said Marty Kropelnicki, Group Chairman and CEO. “I appreciate the recognition NAWC has given Kani on behalf of his team, and I’m incredibly proud of him for receiving this honor on behalf of the entire Hawaii Water team.”
“Kani and the Hawaii Water team on Maui showed incredible strength and dedication, working tirelessly around the clock in the most difficult of circumstances and developing creative solutions to keep the water system operating properly,” Kropelnicki added. “I believe that the team’s efforts to keep firefighters supplied with the water they needed kept the fire from spreading into our service areas and impacting more of West Maui.”
About California Water Service Group
California Water Service Group (NYSE: CWT) is the largest regulated water utility in the western United States. It provides high-quality, reliable water and/or wastewater services to more than 2.1 million people in California, Hawaii, New Mexico, Washington, and Texas through its regulated subsidiaries, California Water Service, Hawaii Water Service, New Mexico Water Service, and Washington Water Service, and its utility holding company, Texas Water Service.
Group’s purpose is to enhance the quality of life for customers, communities, employees, and stockholders. To do so, it invests responsibly in water and wastewater infrastructure, sustainability initiatives, and community well-being. The company’s 1,200+ employees live by a set of strong core values and share a commitment to protecting the planet, caring for people, and operating with the utmost integrity. The company has been named one of “America’s Most Responsible Companies” and the “World’s Most Trustworthy Companies” by Newsweek, a Top Workplace, and a Great Place to Work®. More information is available at www.calwatergroup.com.
Media Contact
Yvonne Kingman
ykingman@calwater.com
310-257-1434
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/82d0f7d9-8128-4a02-b296-b51ac4f9b7f5
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