Harwood "Dan" Williamson, a former Hawaiian Electric Co. engineer and executive who worked his way up from intern to CEO during a nearly four-decade career at the utility, has died at the age of 81.
During his 39 years with the company, Williamson helped design a long list of major projects that make up the now-established backbone of the Oahu electric system today, said Dick Rosenblum, HECO’s current president and chief executive officer.
"Although some of us didn’t have the opportunity to work with Dan, his contributions to our company and our customers are significant and lasting," Rosenblum said in an email to HECO employees.
Among the projects Williamson had a hand in developing were the Kahe switching station; the Palolo, Halawa, Iwilei, School and Koolau substations; and many of Oahu’s major transmission lines. Williamson served as HECO president and CEO from 1985 until his retirement in 1995.
The Waiau-Campbell Industrial Park 138-kilovolt transmission line was the capstone project completed in the year he retired, Rosenblum said. During Williamson’s tenure, HECO also greatly increased its use of renewable energy through contracts with Puna Geothermal Venture and the HPOWER waste-to-energy facility.
"Dan’s leadership guided our organization through a time of major changes for our business," Rosenblum said.
Williamson had a good working relationship with the union representing HECO workers, said Brian Ahakuelo, business manager for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1260. During contract talks, Williamson sat across the bargaining table from Ahakuelo’s father, Norman Ahakuelo, a former business manager for the union.
"My father enjoyed a friendly rivalry with Dan Williamson and he spoke very highly of him. Williamson was a loyal member of the Hawaiian Electric family. He will be missed," Brian Ahakuelo said in a message on the union’s website.
Union officials presented Williamson with an IBEW 1260 belt buckle in recognition of his work with the union, said Williamson’s son, Dr. Binney Williamson.
"He was given the belt buckle because he worked well with the union. They thought he was fair," the younger Williamson said. "He was a pretty humble guy, hardworking but humble — and polite."
Williamson was a strong supporter of education and was one of the founders of the Danford Friend Fund, an endowed scholarship at Kauai Community College.
"One thing my dad always said to me was the best thing a parent can do is give their child an education," said Binney Williamson, who practices family medicine on Kauai in the same hospital where his father and grandmother were born.
Dan Williamson was born Jan. 7, 1932, in Waimea, Kauai. His grandfather immigrated from Ireland in the late 1800s and worked in the sugar industry.
Williamson served with the Marines in the Korean War, and later earned a degree in electrical engineering from Stanford University. He joined HECO in 1956 and worked in various capacities during his tenure, including as president of Hawaii Electric Light Co. from 1978 to 1980.
One of Williamson’s hobbies was flying, and in the 1950s and 1960s he was a member of the Stick and Rudder Flying Club. The 10 or so members of the club jointly owned a Piper Super Cruiser before trading up to a Cessna 170B, said Alan S. Lloyd, a retired HECO engineer and club member.
"We got along real well. He was a member of the flying club, and I was the president, although at work he was my boss," Lloyd said.
Williamson was active on many boards and professional associations, including Aloha United Way, Blood Bank of Hawaii, the Chaminade University Board of Regents, Edison Electrical Institute, Pacific Coast Electrical Association and Robert Lange Foundation.
Williamson is also survived by wife Nancy, daughter Julie Minson of Oregon, brother Thomas Williamson of California and two grandchildren.
Donations can be made to the Danford Friend Fund through the University of Hawaii Foundation, P.O. Box 11270, Honolulu 96828.
Services will be private.
