Electrical Equipment Fire Knocks out Power to 11,000 in Central Maui

Wākea Avenue. Crews respond to electrical equipment fire. Photo by Wendy Osher.

By Wendy Osher

(Update: 1:20 p.m., 12 p.m. 10/7/14)

An estimated 11,000 customers lost power in parts of Kahului, Wailuku, Waiehu, Waikapū, Waihe‘e, Pā‘ia and Kū‘au at around 9:40 a.m.

As of 12 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 7, power was restored to all customers affected by the Central Maui power outage.

The initial cause of the power outage was a problem with electrical equipment located near Maui Electric Company’s Kahului Baseyard on Wākea Avenue, according to MECO spokesperson Kau‘i Awai-Dickson.

Company officials say details regarding the incident remain under investigation.

Earlier this morning, police attributed the incident to a “blown transformer.”  Witnesses reported a small area of smoke and flames at the base of an electric pole on Wākea Avenue shortly before 10 a.m.

The area was closed to traffic for several hours while police and electric crews responded.

Maui Electric officials say power was restored to customers in Pā‘ia and Kū‘au shortly after 10 a.m., and the majority of remaining customers in Kahului, Wailuku, Waihe‘e, Waiehu and Waikapu were brought back online by 11:30 a.m.  An isolated section of Kahului in the area of Onehe‘e Street was returned to power shortly before noon.

(UPDATE: 11:50 p.m.; 10:15 a.m. 10/7/14)

A section of Wākea Avenue is closed and power is out in parts of Kahului, Waiheʻe, Waikapū and Wailuku, after a transformer blew in the area on Tuesday morning, Oct. 7, 2014.

Some traffic signals are out through the Central Maui area. Drivers should proceed with caution and treat each intersection as if it were a 4-way stop.

Maui police say crews from Maui Electric Company are currently working on gradual restoration of power to affected customers in Wailuku and Kahului.

The outage was reported at approximately 9:40 a.m., and initially affected parts of Kūʻau, Pāʻia, Kahului, Waiheʻe, Waiehu, Waikapū and Wailuku. Maui Electric officials say power was restored to Kūʻau and Pāʻia shortly after 10 a.m.  As of 10:50 a.m., parts of Wailuku were also restored.

CENTRAL MAUI POWER OUTAGE, 9:50 a.m. 10/7/14: Power outage reported in parts of Wailuku and Kahului. Crews on scene at Wākea Avenue to investigate cause. There is currently no estimated time on when service will be restored.