Pacific Biodiesel Named Business Climate Champion

Climate Hawaii team and Hawaii Governor Josh Green with Pacific Biodiesel — Pictured L to R are: Shelee Kimura, President and CEO of Hawaiian Electric; Chris Benjamin, Chair of Climate Hawaiʻi; Bob & Kelly King, Co founders of Pacific Biodiesel; Jeff Mikulina, Executive Director of Climate Hawaiʻi; Governor Josh Green

Pacific Biodiesel was named Business Climate Champion at the inaugural Climate Leadership Awards on September 9th, presented by Climate Hawaiʻi and hosted by Governor Josh Green at Washington Place on O‘ahu.

The Business Climate Champion award honors a business that has implemented exceptional sustainable practices, reduced its carbon emissions, advocated for systemic change within or outside its business sector, or developed aggressive plans to accelerate achievement of Hawai‘i’s climate goals.

Trailblazing the Way to Support Sustainability

]eff Mikulina of Climate Hawaii with Bob King of Pacific Biodiesel — Climate Hawaiʻi Executive Director Jeff Mikulina greets Pacific Biodiesel Co-Founder Bob King at Washington Place.

Hawaii Governor Josh Green with Pacific Biodiesel's Kelly King — Climate Hawaiʻi Executive Director Jeff Mikulina greets Pacific Biodiesel Co-Founder Bob King at Washington Place.

The awards were chosen by a panel of Climate Hawai‘i judges with expertise in climate science, sustainability, resilience, clean energy, and leadership in a number of categories.

Why Climate Hawai‘i Selected Pacific Biodiesel as Climate Champion

Climate Hawai‘i is an initiative of the Hawai‘i Executive Collaborative. Their mission is to foster transformative collaboration among diverse groups in pursuit of a more sustainable climate future for Hawai‘i and the world.

In their press release announcing the award recipients, Climate Hawaiʻi wrote “Pacific Biodiesel, a pioneer in renewable fuels for nearly 30 years, was honored for its leadership in producing biodiesel locally and helping to drive the biofuel industry nationally.”

Co-founders Bob and Kelly King accepted the award. “It was humbling to be surrounded by the movers and shakers of climate action in Hawaiʻi at the awards event,” said Kelly King. “We share this honor with our staff and community who have supported us through three decades on our sustainability journey.”

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Sustainability in Action: Maui Brewing Co & Pacific Biodiesel

See how Kuleana Hawaiʻi Oils and Pacific Biodiesel are partnering with Maui Brewing Co. to prove that waste can become fuel, food, and a force for good in Hawaiʻi’s circular economy.

FEATURED CUSTOMER – Maui Brewing Company

March 18, 2026 – Today – March 18 – is both National Biodiesel Day AND Global Recycling Day. So we are giving a special MAHALO shoutout to Maui Brewing Company – the FIRST food and beverage producer in Hawaiʻi to utilize our local biodiesel to help power their manufacturing operations AND recycle with us the used cooking oil from their restaurants statewide.

2026 Legislative Priority

“Hawaiʻi’s heavy dependence on imported petroleum threatens the Stateʻs energy security, economic stability, and national security interests in the Pacific region. Locally produced biodiesel provides an immediately deployable, renewable, energy-dense fuel that reduces reliance on foreign crude oil and increases the State’s resilience against global supply disruptions, both of which have strategic local community and military importance.”