A locally owned fuel supplier has become a quiet piece of Hawaii's emergency infrastructure — good news for island communities that lose power during storms.

• Maui Oil Company keeps generators, water systems, and phone networks running during outages by delivering fuel to government agencies and big businesses.
• The company started in 1982 when Alex and Mary Jane McBarnett took over Chevron's local operations, and hits 45 years in January.
• After the Lahaina fires, it converted a truck to pump gas directly into cars and drove it to the burn zone with the county.
• It also owns Big Island Energy Company and has delivered fuel to Pahala, Kurtistown, and Lanai after recent disasters.
• Lanai depends entirely on shipped-in fuel for its electricity, so a damaged harbor can leave the island dark.

Outlook: With another active storm season underway, fuel logistics will stay a weak link in keeping the smaller islands powered.