Downed Tree on Keʻanae Ridge Knocks out Power in East Maui

A large tree brought down electrical lines and damaged a pole on a ridge in Keanae cutting power to about 100 customers in Keanae and Nahiku. The remote area is only accessible by helicopter and Maui Electric crews are currently on the scene. However, due to the extent of the damage and location of the lines and pole, affected customers are asked to be prepared to be without power until tomorrow afternoon. Photo credit: Maui Electric.

By Maui Now Staff

Electric customers in Keʻanae and Nāhiku are being asked to prepared for an extended power outage after a downed tree knocked out power to an estimated 895 customers shortly before 3 a.m. on Friday, May 1, 2015, Maui Electric representatives said.

The incident was reported at 2:49 a.m. when a tree on a ridge above Keʻanae brought down two spans of power lines and damaged a pole, said Maui Electric’s Kauʻi Awai-Dickson.

The initial outage affected customers from Huelo to Hāna. The Keʻanae circuit re-closed instantaneously restoring power to 325 of the affected customers and Hāna generating units were brought online at 2:55 a.m. to restore power to remaining customers in Hāna, said Awai-Dickson.

At 6:51 a.m., Maui Electric de-energized portions of Keʻanae and Nāhiku in order to gain access and begin repairs to the downed line and pole, affecting approximately 100 customers.

“Access is extremely difficult and dangerous in this area as the line came down on a ridge,” said Awai-Dickson, who explained that workers, materials and equipment must be flown by helicopter to the scene.

Maui Electric and Asplundh crews are currently on site working to clear a larger landing pad for the helicopter transport of materials.

Due to the extent of work to be done, Maui Electric asks that customers in Keʻanae and Nāhiku be prepared to be without power until tomorrow afternoon.

Work will continue throughout the rest of the day and resume on Saturday morning at first light.