Hawaiian Electric Co. will host a public meeting at McKinley High School to share its draft plan on how it will modernize Oahu’s power grid.

The meeting will be Monday at McKinley High’s Hirata Hall, starting at 6:30 p.m. with an overview of the plan presented at 7. A question-and-answer session will follow.

HECO said the public opinion gathered from this meeting and three others held on Maui and Hawaii island will be included in the final plan to be submitted to the state Public Utilities Commission at the end of August.

In June, HECO submitted to the PUC a draft of plans to make $205 million in upgrades to its grid over the next six years.

In the filing submitted to the state, HECO said it intends to add sensors, automated control systems and upgraded inverters as well as smart meters in specific neighborhoods where there are high numbers of private rooftop solar systems.

HECO said these upgrades will increase reliability of service as well as help add more solar to the grids on Oahu, Maui and Hawaii island.

Factories hum louder as demand returns

TOKYO >> Japan’s factory output rose in June, while unemployment fell to 2.8 percent, as a recovery in global demand helped drive growth in the world’s third-largest economy.

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry reported Monday that factory production in June rose 4.9 percent over a year earlier and 1.6 percent from the month before.

Consumer demand picked up in June with the payment of half-year bonuses.

Labor conditions were tight, with the number of job offers to applicants at a 43-year high of 1.51. But inflation, which was reported earlier, remained flat.

After many years of excess spare capacity, the slack in the economy has slowly tightened, with inventories falling sharply in June, the METI report said. Factory output is at the highest level it has been in more than three years.

ON THE MOVE

>> Kamehameha Schools has named Kekoa Kaluhiwa senior director for the Statewide Operations Division of its Community Engagement and Resources Group. His experience includes being first deputy with the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, principal of Kuano‘o Communications and director of external affairs for First Wind Energy.

>> Pali Momi Medical Center has hired Dr. Linda Anegawa for its Hawaii Pacific Health 360-degree Weight Management Center. She is an internal medicine physician with a specialty in obesity medicine.

>> Island Insurance has named Lyle Harada senior vice president, claims; he will also continue his current position as claims counsel. His experience includes being a partner with Kawashima, Lorusso & Harada.