Hawaiian Electric Adds Peter Ho to Board
Former Bank of Hawaii chairman and CEO Peter Ho joins the boards of Hawaiian Electric and its parent company, Hawaiian Electric Industries.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in People
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Hawaiian Electric appointed Peter Ho to its board and to the board of Hawaiian Electric Industries, with Ho set to serve on the HEI Audit and Risk Committee. Ho retired earlier in 2026 as chairman and chief executive officer of Bank of Hawaii.
Why it matters
The appointment adds a veteran Hawaii banking executive to the boards of the state's largest electric utility and its parent company. Ho's experience leading one of Honolulu's major banks may bear on oversight of financial and risk matters at the utility.
Bank of Hawaii held roughly $24 billion in total assets with a market capitalization near $2.7 billion during Ho's time as chief executive. The filing does not specify the figures for the year Ho retired.
The players
Peter Ho
Peter Ho is a longtime Hawaii banker who founded Ilikai Advisors LLC and previously served as a director of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco from 2013 to 2018.
Hawaiian Electric
Hawaiian Electric is the primary electric utility serving Oahu and other Hawaiian islands, and is a subsidiary of Hawaiian Electric Industries.
Bank of Hawaii
Bank of Hawaii is a Honolulu-based bank holding company that is one of the largest financial institutions headquartered in Hawaii.
The details
Hawaiian Electric announced that Peter Ho will serve on the boards of Hawaiian Electric and Hawaiian Electric Industries, and on the HEI Audit and Risk Committee. Ho began his banking career in 1987 at Manufacturers Hanover in New York City and joined the Bank of Hawaii board in 2005 before leading the bank from 2010 until 2026.
Timeline
2005: Peter Ho joined the Bank of Hawaii board.
2010: Peter Ho became chairman and chief executive officer of Bank of Hawaii.
2026: Peter Ho retired from Bank of Hawaii.
November 6, 2026: Hawaiian Electric announced Ho's board appointments.
Market Landscape
Ho previously served as a director of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco from 2013 to 2018, a regional seat that overlaps with the Pacific-area banking sector where he built his career. His move into utility board service extends a pattern of Hawaii business leaders carrying financial governance experience into other regulated industries.
Honolulu electricity customers see no direct change from this board appointment. The shift affects corporate oversight at Hawaiian Electric rather than rates or service.
The takeaway
Board appointments at regulated utilities often bring financial and risk expertise into corporate oversight. For Honolulu residents, Ho's added role signals where Hawaiian Electric is seeking governance strength.
Further reading
For more profiles of local business leaders, see People in Honolulu business coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Maui Now | Hawaii News | Local Maui News and Information | Hawaii News.
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