Power Restored to 7,817 Customers in Upcountry and Nāpili
Maui Electric crews restored power to approximately 7,817 customers in the Upcountry area and Nāpili due to effects from Tropical Storm Madeline. Maui Electric is continuing to monitor Hurricane Lester and remains ready to respond in anticipation of possible storm impacts.
As heavy rains and gusty winds started to pick up yesterday morning, about 6,394 customers in the Upcountry area, from Makawao to Hāna, experienced a power outage around 10:18 a.m. yesterday when a tree branch came into contact with electrical lines along Ha‘ikū Road. A majority of customers were restored within a half hour at 10:47 a.m. with all remaining customer in the Hāna Airport area restored by 11:36 a.m.
This morning, about 1,368 customers in the Nāpili area lost service around 4:12 a.m. as tree fronds fell on electrical lines along Lower Honoapi‘ilani Highway. All customers were restored around 6 a.m. after Maui Electric responders cleared the branches from the lines. Around 4:53 a.m., about 55 customers in Olinda also experienced an outage when a tree brought down electrical lines into a nearby gulch. All customers were restored by 9 a.m. today after crews retrieved and repaired the downed line.
“As Hurricane Lester advances, our Maui Electric response teams remain vigilant and are prepared to respond if the electrical system is impacted on Maui, Moloka‘i, or Lāna‘i,” said Sharon Suzuki, president of Maui Electric. “With safety of our customers and employees always a top priority, we also want to continue to remind people that electricity can be dangerous and electrical safety should never be taken for granted, especially during an emergency situation.”
Should the public see a downed line, stay at least 30 feet away. Assume they are energized and dangerous. To report a power outage, call the Maui Electric Trouble Line at (808) 871-7777 or toll-free at 1-877-871-8461, or 911 if it’s an emergency.