Kaʻiulani Shinsato, J.D.
Director, Customer Energy Resources
Hawaiian Electric
Kaʻiulani Shinsato, J.D. is a Mentor Hawaii Cohort 10 mentor. Learn more about the program here.
About Kaʻiulani
Ka‘iulani (“Lani”) Shinsato has been actively engaged in Hawai‘i’s clean energy environment for almost twenty years. She is Director of Customer Energy Resources at Hawaiian Electric, where she is responsible for overseeing Hawaiian Electric’s rooftop solar and battery programs for residential and commercial customers, and strategy and policy for customer energy resources. Lani has worked closely with stakeholders over the years to design new solar programs and improve the solar interconnection process. Thanks to this collaboration, Hawai‘i continues to lead the nation in customer adoption of rooftop solar.
Prior to joining Hawaiian Electric in 2013, Lani served as Commission Counsel at the Hawai‘i Public Utilities Commission for over seven years, where she acted as lead attorney on several ground-breaking renewable energy dockets for Hawai‘i.
Public Utilities Fortnightly named Ka‘iulani as one of its 2017 Fortnightly Top 40 Innovators. A 2019 graduate of the Patsy T. Mink Leadership Alliance, Lani also serves on the Board of Directors for the Honolulu Japanese Chamber of Commerce.
Lani holds a Juris Doctorate degree from the William S. Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawai‘i, and a B.A. in International Studies from the University of Washington. When not working on renewable energy, Lani enjoys hiking, skiing, dancing hula, and spending time with her husband and fifteen-year-old daughter.
Question and Answer with kaʻiulani
What is your preferred communication style when mentoring (in-person, video conference, phone, informal check-ins, structured meetings, etc.)?
In-Person Meeting, Video-Conference, Phone, Informal Check-In, Activity, Meal
Why do you want to become a mentor in this program?
I have served as a mentor now many different times, and find great fulfillment each time. I am at a season in my career where I can offer good questions, perspectives, guidance, and personal lessons learned in the hopes that my mentee can find personal and professional growth in our discussions and relationship. Having been a recipient of leadership development, I have deep kuleana to give back and raise the tide of, in particular, women leaders in Hawai’i.
What specific skills, knowledge or experience can you share with your mentee?
Areas where I have experience and love to talk about: changing careers, career advancement, regulatory engagement, stakeholder engagement, leadership development, managing perfectionism and imposter syndrome, community involvement and networking, health and wellness, work-life balance.
What are your expectations for a mentor-mentee relationship?
I expect our relationship to be one built on trust, where we feel safe to share authentically and learn from one another. I believe mentorship is a two-way street that involves two-way communication. I have always walked away a better person from every mentorship relationship I’ve entered into, and I would hope the same impact for my mentee.
How do you approach problem-solving and conflict resolution?
I approach both from a place of calm, non-judgment, listening to understand, and a positive attitude.
How do you envision success for your mentee, and how will you measure it during the program?
If my mentee can show up in life, in particular at its most challenging points, as his or her best self more often due to the conversations we have, I will call that success. I will measure this success by checking in regularly with my mentee on how they think they are growing, learning, and becoming more self-aware and better equipped to handle the beautiful messiness that comes with life, both professional and personal.
