Maui Power Updates: Scattered Outages

Maui weather updates for Monday: https://bit.ly/3Gl0d9p
Road advisories: https://bit.ly/3pySo9H
Power updates: https://bit.ly/3lCJJ4M
School updates: https://bit.ly/3dqYqmR

Pocket Outages Remain in Upcountry and parts of Ha‘ikū, Lahaina, Wailuku

Update: 10 p.m., Monday, Dec. 6, 2021

There are some remaining pocket outages in Upcountry and parts of Ha‘ikū, Lahaina and Wailuku at this hour. Hawaiian Electric is asking affected customers to prepare for an extended outage until Tuesday.

Crews have restored power to most customers in Pukalani, Makawao and parts of Kula by Monday evening.

Efforts Continue to Restore Power to Upcountry Area by This Evening

Update: 5:06 p.m., Monday, Dec. 6, 2021

Pi‘iholo, Olinda, pocket outages asked to prepare for overnight outage

Hawaiian Electric crews are working to restore electric service to about 5,600 customers in Upcountry Maui and pockets of Kū‘au, Ha‘ikū and Lahaina currently impacted by the storm system that continues to affect the state. With crews making progress in repairing damaged transmission lines, estimated restoration is anticipated by later this evening for a majority of the affected Upcountry customers.

Customers in the Upper Pi‘iholo and Olinda area are asked to prepare for an extended overnight outage. Downed power lines serving this area are in a remote gulch and with ongoing inclement weather conditions, crews cannot safely access parts of the line to make repairs at this time.

While crews are working as quickly as possible to restore the multiple outages, customers without power by 9 p.m. tonight or who may experience an outage overnight are asked to anticipate for the outages to be extended until tomorrow. The Haleakalā Crater summit area is also without power.

Since Sunday, an estimated 22,000 Maui customers experienced brief to extended power outages caused by gusty winds and fallen trees on the island’s transmission and distribution system. Crews worked through the night in areas that were safe to access and continued with restoration efforts today to bring customers in parts of Ha‘ikū to Nāhiku, Pukalani, Kīhei, Pā‘ia and Lahaina back online.

It will take time to complete all restoration efforts as crews are addressing accessibility in certain areas where there may be downed trees and debris removal ahead of restoration. The transmission lines must be restored first, followed by any damaged poles, downed distribution and service wires, and other electrical equipment in affected neighborhoods.

Hawaiian Electric also reminds the community to stay at least 30 feet away from downed power lines. Downed power lines are energized and dangerous.

Outage updates are posted on the company’s Twitter account @MauiElectric. To report an outage or downed power line, please call (808) 871-7777.

Transmission Line Assessments Underway

Update: 12 p.m., Monday, Dec. 6, 2021

Due to weather-related damages to the transmission system serving parts of Upcountry Maui, South Maui and West Maui, Hawaiian Electric is conducting damage assessments to these main lines to safely start repairs to restore customers affected in the areas of Pukalani, Kula, pockets of Kīhei, Haʻikū, Pāʻia and Lahaina. The Haleakalā Crater summit area is also without power.

“Crews are working as quickly as possible to determine the extent of damages in the affected areas and also addressing accessibility in certain areas where there may be downed trees and debris removal ahead of restoration efforts,” a company spokesperson said. “The transmission lines must be restored first, followed by any damaged poles, downed distribution and service wires, and other electrical equipment in affected neighborhoods.”

“We appreciate the continued patience and ask that customers please prepare for outages to be extended through today. With our top priority being the safety of the public and our crews, it will take time for restorations due to the ongoing hazardous weather conditions being experienced and forecasted to continue,” according to a company spokesperson.

Crews restored power to Haʻikū to Nāhiku and parts of South Maui, Makawao, the Peʻahi and Kūʻau area and Lahaina on Maui and Maunaloa area on Molokaʻi. 

Weather Pending, Assessments on Transmissions Lines Ongoing

Update: 8 a.m., Monday, Dec. 6, 2021

Due to the weather-related damages on transmission lines, outages are currently happening in the Pukalani and Kula areas as well as parts of Kīhei and pockets of Makawao, Pāʻia and West Maui. The Haleakalā Crater summit area is also without power.

“We appreciate the continued patience and ask that customers please prepare for outages to be extended through today,” a Hawaiian Electric Company spokesperson said. “It will take time for restorations due to the ongoing hazardous weather conditions being experienced and forecasted to continue.”

Typically, helicopters are used to expedite damage assessments of the electrical system. However, due to the inclement weather conditions, air inspections cannot take place at this time.

Areas that are currently safe to access are being assessed by vehicle or by field inspectors on foot to review the extent of damages to the system and safely start repairs of the main transmission lines.

Crews restored power to Haʻikū to Nāhiku and parts of Makawao, the Peʻahi area and Lahaina on Maui and Maunaloa area on Molokaʻi.

Crews work through night, restoration efforts continue today on Maui

Update: 6:22 a.m., Monday, Dec. 6, 2021

Crews worked through the night to restore power to Haʻikū to Nāhiku and parts of Makawao, the Peʻahi and Kūʻau area and Lahaina on Maui and Maunaloa area on Molokaʻi. 

Currently, due to the hazardous weather-related damages on transmission lines, outages are being experienced in the Pukalani and Kula areas as well as parts of Kīhei and pockets of Makawao and Pāʻia. The Haleakalā Crater summit area is also without power.

A spokesperson with Hawaiian Electric Company on Maui said the company appreciates the continued patience as crews are assessing the extent of damages to the system to safely make repairs starting with the main transmission lines – the backbone of the island’s electrical system.

Update: 9 p.m.

Due to weather conditions, customers asked to plan for extended outages on Maui Molokaʻi.

Currently, outages are being experienced in the Pukalani, Kula, Makawao, and Haʻikū to Nāhiku areas as well as parts of Kīhei and pockets of Kahului and Pāʻia. On Molokaʻi, the Maunaloa area is also experiencing an outage. 

Due to ongoing weather conditions, customers currently experiencing outages and who may experience an outage through the night should prepare to remain without power until tomorrow when crews can safely assess damages to the system before beginning repair efforts.

The Kahului Airport is back online.

Update: 8:08 p.m.

The Department of Transportation reports that the traffic signal at Hoʻokele and Hāna Highway is flashing. A contractor is responding to the scene. Motorists are advised to drive with caution in the area.

Update: 7:54 p.m. 12.5.21

Hawaiian Electric Company is responding to power outages in areas of Pukalani, Kula, Makawao, and Haʻikū to Nāhiku.

The Kahului Airport was without power earlier this evening and had emergency power back up by 7:18 p.m., according to the state Department of Transportation. The Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority advises that flights are being affected at the Kahului Airport on Maui – check with your airline before heading to the airport if you have a scheduled flight.

Meantime on Hawaiʻi Island, heavy wind and rain (as of 7:54 p.m.) is making boarding difficult and two flights have been canceled out of Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole.

On Molokaʻi, the Maunaloa area is currently experiencing a power outage.

On the roadways, Transportation crews with the Highways Division were responding to a downed tree on Kula Highway at Mile Marker 16 at around 7:28 p.m.