LIHUE — Tara-Lynn Kaui of Puhi said she’s glad Chevron will keep its Safeway Reward program when the company is rebranded to Texaco early next year. “It’s good that they’re keeping the points system,” Kaui said. “Because if not, then
LIHUE — Tara-Lynn Kaui of Puhi said she’s glad Chevron will keep its Safeway Reward program when the company is rebranded to Texaco early next year.
“It’s good that they’re keeping the points system,” Kaui said. “Because if not, then that’s going to upset a lot of people.”
On Tuesday, Island Energy completed its acquisition of Chevron’s Hawaii assets for an undisclosed amount, said Albert Chee, Island Energy vice president of retail, marketing and community relations.
“Island Energy … is going to continue to run the business going forward,” he said. “We intend to grow it and expand it. That means we’ll be looking to put more locations out there. I can’t be specific where on Kauai we might be looking at this time.”
Part of that transition will include a rebranding of five of Chevron’s service stations on Kauai to the Texaco brand, starting in early 2017.
Texaco is a brand that is owned and operated by Chevron, and Island Energy is able to license the brand from Chevron, Chee said.
“All the features of the Chevron brand today, including the fuel additive Techron, the loyalty program we have with Safeway, the credit card, all of that is going to remain the same,” Ched said. “We felt that was very important to serve that customer base in the best way we could going forward.”
Chee said Island Energy could not hold on to the Chevron name.
“Chevron the company does not permit entities or people to operate under Chevron unless they have direct control over that asset,” he said. “The next best thing, if you want to be part of the Chevron brand, is to license their Texaco brand.”
The acquired assets include the refinery in Kapolei, four product distribution terminals on Oahu, Maui, Kauai and Hawaii Island, pipeline distribution systems and other related downstream assets in Hawaii, according to an Island Energy press release.
Most of the Hawaii-based team members previously employed by Chevron have accepted offers from Island Energy to remain with the company.
Among those who will remain with Island Energy is Jon Mauer, a 28-year Chevron executive and current Hawaii refinery manager, who will continue as the company’s president and chief executive officer.
“This is an exciting opportunity to build on the strong foundation that Chevron established in Hawaii,” Mauer said. “As we move forward under the new Island Energy name, the same dedicated professionals responsible for decades of safe, reliable and environmentally responsible operations in Hawaii will continue to deliver high-quality gasoline and other refined products and services to meet the Islands’ energy and transportation needs.”
Miko Avecilla has been with the Chevron company for six years and is part of the new Hokulei Chevron in Lihue.
“Our uniforms will change, but that’s about it,” she said. “I’m excited for the change.”
Chee added that the Chevron Hawaii assets were among “the tiniest collection of assets in their portfolio” and decided to sell those assets.
“They went through a long, extensive process with bidders to finally land upon One Rock Capital Partners as the company best suited to go forward and continue operating the business in Hawaii,” he said.
Island Energy Services, LLC is an entity controlled by One Rock Capital Partners, L.P., a New York-based private equity firm.
Mauer said Island Energy expects to continue to reward loyal customers with the same discounts at the pump associated with the Safeway Reward Points and Chevron credit card programs.
