Hundreds of people gathered at the Hawaii Electric Light Co. office in Hilo on Monday to protest plans for expansion of geothermal energy on the Big Island.
Hundreds of people gathered at the Hawaii Electric Light Co. office in Hilo on Monday to protest plans for expansion of geothermal energy on the Big Island.
The large rally slowed traffic at the intersection of Kilauea Avenue and Kekuanaoa Street, where protesters sang and waved signs at passing motorists.
The event was the culmination of a march that began at 10 a.m. Saturday at Pahoa High School and continued over the weekend, ending at HELCO’s office at about 11 a.m. Monday morning.
The demonstrators delivered a petition against the expansion of geothermal power, and organizers met with HELCO officials.
Puna Pono Alliance staged the event, and members of Occupy Hilo joined the marchers at the HELCO office.
HELCO is reviewing proposals for a 50-megawatt expansion of geothermal power.
For more on this story, see Tuesday’s Tribune-Herald.