The Hawaii State Energy Office (HSEO) has secured $1.8 million in federal funding to expand the Hawaii Advanced Visualization Energy Nexus (HAVEN), a cutting-edge infrastructure visualization platform Developed in partnership with the University of Hawaii's Laboratory for Advanced Visualization and Applications (LAVA Lab). HAVEN is an interactive 3D environment that makes technical data on energy infrastructure, land-use tradeoffs, and resilience planning accessible to a wide range of users — from state agency staff to community stakeholders with little technical background. When paired with the National Lab of the Rockies' Engage energy modeling tool, HAVEN can visually display complex data developed under a utility’s integrated resource planning process in a way decision-makers at every level of expertise can understand. The platform has drawn attention as a model for how State Energy Offices can bridge the gap between dense analytical datasets and actionable public engagement. As states across the country grapple with increasingly complex resilience decisions, from grid hardening to critical mineral siting, platforms like HAVEN offer a template for making that complexity navigable for decision-makers at every level.
The new funding will expand HAVEN’s capabilities over a multiyear period, including the integration of new visualization tools and artificial intelligence to enable semi-autonomous user engagement. The project also offers University of Hawaii graduate students a hands-on experience in advanced data visualization as a potential future career in Hawaii and beyond as states build capacity for innovative energy planning and resilience work.
HSEO also serves as a regional partner for the U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Technology Innovation Partnership Project (ETIPP) through the Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation. HSEO leads ETIPP efforts in Hawaii and the Pacific Territories, positioning Hawaii as a node in a broader national network that helps coastal, remote, and island communities improve the resilience, affordability, and reliability of their energy systems.
Like ETIPP, HAVEN represents a compelling example of how State Energy Offices can leverage federal partnerships and university collaborations to develop tools that support integrated energy, land use, and emergency planning.