Islands are characterized by isolated energy systems and a reliance on fossil fuel imports which comes with significant economic and environmental consequences and difficulties. Specifically, climate change, energy security and reliability, and price volatility are contributing factors to transformational socio-technical change in energy systems. This study applied a sustainability transition management framework to conceptualize an island energy transition as a multi-level and purposive policy-driven sustainability and self-sufficiency socio-technical intervention. Using this contextual approach, we reviewed the means and scope of change, taking into consideration the prerequisites for developing an intelligent energy region from the inception of the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative in 2008 to date. Based on a case study with document analysis and in-depth interviews with energy stakeholders, we assess progress on Hawaii's energy system transformation and associated socio-technical innovations. Through the lens of the multilevel perspective analytical framework, the case study results demonstrate how regime-level policies have stimulated actions at the niche-level to overcome significant policy and technological hurdles. Regime and niche-level actions in Hawaii's energy transition can inform potentially replicable sustainable energy policies in other islands as well as inland communities, states, and nations. This research contributes to energy policy literature by providing (1) a conceptual framework of an island energy transition; (2) a review of policy and technology solutions at the state and local level to support change; (3) a case study of a first-of-its kind energy innovation collaboration; and (4) policy implications for emerging island energy transition efforts worldwide.

岛屿的特点是能源系统孤立，对化石燃料的进口依赖，这给经济和环境带来了严重的后果和困难。具体而言，气候变化，能源安全性和可靠性以及价格波动是导致能源系统社会技术变革的因素。这项研究应用了可持续发展过渡管理框架，将岛屿能源过渡概念化为一种多层次且有目的的政策驱动的可持续发展和自给自足的社会技术干预措施。从2008年夏威夷清洁能源计划启动至今，我们考虑了发展智能能源区域的前提条件，使用这种背景方法，回顾了变化的方式和范围。基于案例分析和文档分析，并与能源利益相关者进行了深入访谈，我们评估了夏威夷能源系统转型和相关的社会技术创新的进展。通过多层次视角分析框架的视角，案例研究结果证明了政权级政策如何刺激了利基级的行动，以克服重大的政策和技术障碍。夏威夷的能源转型中的政权和小生境层面的行动可以为其他岛屿以及内陆社区，州和国家的潜在可复制的可持续能源政策提供信息。这项研究通过提供（1）岛屿能源过渡的概念框架，为能源政策文献做出了贡献。（2）审查州和地方一级支持变更的政策和技术解决方案；（3）首次开展能源创新合作的案例研究；（4）对全球新兴岛屿能源过渡工作的政策影响。