It does seem like it would be possible to lay a cable to transmit the power from the Big Island to Oahu. My reference for that is the plan to lay a cable to transmit power from Australia to Singapore.
Even before opening the article I had a feeling I would see Ellison's name _somewhere_. I don't know if the review trigger was an excuse, just annoyance at it being Ellison, or what, but wild how a single person can have so much of an effect.