Hawaii Builds a Local SAF Supply Chain, Exploring New Pathways for Aviation Decarbonization

Hawaii is charting a new pathway for energy transition by bringing airlines, fuel producers, and local farmers into a single sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) ecosystem, aiming to deliver a practical solution for decarbonizing aviation. As one of the hardest sectors to abate, aviation has seen slow progress in emissions reduction, but this initiative seeks to address the challenge through a “local production, local use” model, with airlines already planning to use biofuels produced within the islands.

Against this backdrop, Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines are partnering with Par Hawaii to advance the development and deployment of locally produced SAF. This collaboration moves the energy transition beyond policy ambitions, gradually transforming it into a fully integrated supply chain rooted in the island economy.

At the same time, the initiative is designed to strengthen Hawaii’s energy resilience. By reducing reliance on imported fossil fuels, the project links climate action with economic and environmental security, supporting the creation of a more self-reliant and resilient energy system for the state.