#MECO

A critical transmission line that serves as a back-up route of power to approximately 11,000 customers in West Maui is now online after Hawaiian Electric rebuilt the line along former routes in the Lahaina area with new steel and wood poles and electrical equipment. 

Ameresco, Inc. is hosting a open house community meeting on Tuesday, May 7, to provide information and seek community input about its ‘Ūkiu Energy project located across from the Central Maui Landfill behind Hawaiian Electric’s Waena substation.

Hawaiian Electric will be using unmanned aircraft, or drones, for aerial inspections of its infrastructure in the Kāʻanapali, West Maui area on Wednesday, April 3, from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., weather permitting.

Hawaiian Electric is seeking public comment for the preliminary draft of the Integrated Grid Planning Request for Proposals, the latest phase of clean energy procurements aimed at stabilizing rates and advancing energy equity, growing the marketplace for large-scale renewables, creating a modern and resilient grid, and securing reliability as existing fossil fuel generators reach the end of their useful lives.

Hawaiian Electric is continuing restoration work to rebuild portions of the electric system in Lahaina in an effort to ensure safe and reliable power to all West Maui customers following the August 2023 wildfires. Ongoing restoration efforts include the rebuilding of transmission and distribution lines along former routes in the Lahaina area with the installation of new interim steel poles and electrical equipment.

Hawaiian Electric reports that power was restored to most impacted customers in Kahului by 2:20 p.m., however 35 customers remained offline. Crews continue to investigate the outage, which was first reported at around 12:20 p.m.

As of 5 p.m., power has been restored to all customers, according to Hawaiian Electric Company.

Update: 3 p.m. An estimated 2,300 customers in the Mahinahina area of West Maui experienced an outage when a backhoe being used by a private construction company snagged a guy anchor line on a pole.

Today is Utility Scam Awareness Day and Hawaiian Electric wants to remind customers that it doesn’t accept payment via cryptocurrency, prepaid debit cards, gift cards or money transfer.

Hawaiian Electric will use a helicopter to perform routine power line inspections on Maui on Monday, Nov. 6 to Thursday, Nov. 9, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Exact times and locations are subject to change depending on weather conditions.

Hawaiian Electric today announced actions it is taking as part of its Wildfire Safety Strategy, particularly in drought-stricken areas at elevated risk for wildfires.

Currently, crews are continuing repairs to restore an approximate 300 remaining customers in Lahaina, including the Wahikuli area. In the last two weeks, with more areas being cleared for re-entry by emergency response officials, crews restored power to about 350 customers in the Kahoma Village, parts of Puamana and Upper Kapunakea area.

The Maui Police Department on Monday identified one more victim of the Aug. 8 Lahaina fire: Michael Misaka, 61, of Lahaina.

Hawaiian Electric has extended the suspension of service disconnections for all Maui customers through at least Nov. 6. Maui customers who are financially challenged by the devastating wildfires will not have to worry about their electric service.

The Maui Police Department on Wednesday identified two more victims of the Aug. 8 Lahaina fire: Leslie Smith, 80, and Dale Richter, 66, both from Lahaina.

Jeanne Eliason of Lahaina was excited to become a grandmother for the first time, but she died in the Lahaina fire before her daughter gave birth to a baby boy.

The Maui Police Department identified one more victim of the Aug. 8 Lahaina fire on Thursday: Michael Mahnensmith, 80, of Lahaina. Mahnensmith’s name was moved from the latest “verified list” of unaccounted for individuals released last week Friday. Maui police update the list weekly.

The Maui Police Department on Tuesday identified Laurie Allen, 65, of Lahaina as a victim of the Aug. 8 Lahaina fire. She had sustained burn wounds during evacuation from her home, according to earlier reports.

The Maui Police Department identified one more victim of the Aug. 8 Lahaina fire on Monday: Franklin Trejos, 68, of Lahaina.

The Maui Police Department identified one more victim of the Aug. 8 Lahaina fire on Friday: Allen John Constantino, 25, of Lahaina.