HECO 9 p.m. update: Personnel mobilized for damage assessments, power restoration

9 p.m. update: Hawaiian Electric to work through the night to restore power

Hundreds of Hawaiian Electric employees and contractors have been working non-stop to restore power to customers impacted by the destructive Kona Low storm. In many areas, toppled trees, branches and other debris must be cleared before damage assessments and repairs can begin. All customers are urged to stay prepared for potential extended outages.

As of 9 p.m.:

• Oʻahu: About 7,000 customers are without power (3% of customers on island) The H-3 Freeway was reopened in both directions shortly after 6 p.m. after crews completed repairs to a major transmission line that crosses over traffic.
• Maui County: On Sunday evening, crews restored power to a majority of South Maui customers. Crews also brought back online a majority of Kula customers between the Ōmaʻopio Road area to Lower Kula Highway. About 4,600 customers (6% of customers on Maui) are currently without power, with the majority in Upcountry and East Maui.
• Hawaiʻi Island: About 14,500 customers (16% of customers) are without power in various areas around the island. Today, crews worked in Kea‘au, Kurtistown, Mountain View, Volcano, South Point, and North and South Kona. Two transmission lines also were repaired, and repairs to a third line are expected to be completed by tomorrow. Damage assessments were conducted in accessible areas in Kaloko, Holualoa, South Point, Volcano Village, Mauna Loa Estates, Royal Hawaiian Estates, and Nanawale Estates. In total, 30 damaged or broken poles were identified.

Customers can view current outages and report outages on the outage map at hawaiianelectric.com and on the mobile app. Estimated restoration times displayed on the outage maps are approximations. Inspections must be completed and any repairs made before power can be safely restored.

Customers experiencing a long duration power outage can find safety reminders and other tips in Hawaiian Electric’s Handbook for Emergency Preparedness available on hawaiianelectric.com. 

How HECO restores power following a storm

HECO reports it doesn’t restore power based on when customers report an outage, where customers live or the status of accounts. Rather, it begins with multiple locations and follow an overall plan that calls for restoring power to the largest number of customers safely and as quickly as possible.

• HECO starts by repairing any damage to power plants and the power lines that carry electricity from plants to the local substations.
• Priority is given to critical facilities such as hospitals, water pumping sites, wastewater plants, military facilities, and airports.
• At the same time, crews work to return service to the largest number of customers in the shortest amount of time.
• From here, HECO repairs the infrastructure serving smaller groups and neighborhoods, converging on the hardest hit areas until every customer’s power is restored.

For more information on power restoration steps, visit hawaiianelectric.com/safety-and-outages/storm-center/storm-restoration-process.

5 p.m. update: Customers without power should prepare for prolonged outages, safety of public and crew remain top priority

Widespread damage caused by the Kona Low event is hampering response efforts by Hawaiian Electric across its services areas, and customers who are currently without electricity should plan for prolonged outages into the overnight hours, and possibly days. Although crews may not be able to perform some work at night due to weather conditions or safety concerns, other planning, assessment and operations activities will continue around the clock. Outage numbers remain fluid as power may be restored to some customers and another area may experience an outage.

“The safety of the public and our crews is our top priority,” said Marc Asano, Hawaiian Electric incident commander. “Restoration is expected to be a long and complex process, and we ask for the patience, understanding, and cooperation of all customers.”

The storm that brought extreme flash flooding, destruction of roadways and properties across the islands has also caused extensive damage to electrical infrastructure identified by Hawaiian Electric crews today.

As of 4 p.m.:

• Oʻahu: Progress has been made to restore power in parts of Waipahu, Wahiawā,  ʻEwa Beach, Hawaiʻi Kai and Pearl City where some customers have been without electricity since Friday or Saturday. About 12,000 customers across the island remain without power due to damaged equipment either on the utility or customer side, accessibility and other issues. Crews continue to work on repairing a major transmission line that serves Windward Oʻahu and anticipate reopening H-3 Freeway in both directions at 6 p.m. 
• Maui County: About 6,900 customers remain without power, including areas of Upcountry, South, Haʻikū and East Maui. In East Maui, crews have identified about 20 damaged poles and multiple spans of downed lines with inspections still occurring. In Upcountry Maui, helicopter inspections had to be stopped due to high wind conditions. However, crews identified at least 10 damaged poles in the Crater Road area and are still conducting ground inspections and repairs throughout Kula. Customers should continue preparing for possible extended outages that could last for several days due to the extensive damage and repairs currently identified and inspections still having to be completed.
• Hawaiʻi Island: Today, crews completed repairs to two transmission lines and expect to complete repairs to a third line by tomorrow. Damage assessments and repairs are being done in the lower Puna and South Point areas. About 14,500 customers are without power, with the majority in Puna, South Point, and North and South Kona.

The outage numbers above represent a snapshot in time and are subject to change as stated above. Customers can view current outages and report outages on the outage map at hawaiianelectric.com and on the mobile app. Estimated restoration times noted on the outage maps may not reflect actual times. Details will not be available until inspections are completed and any repairs are made before power can be safely restored.

All customers are urged to stay prepared for potential extended outages through the remainder of today into early next week as the storm continues to make its way across the state. 

How we restore power following a storm

We don’t restore power based on when customers report an outage, where customers live or the status of accounts. Rather, we begin with multiple locations and follow an overall plan that calls for restoring power to the largest number of customers safely and as quickly as possible.

• We start by repairing any damage to our power plants and the power lines that carry electricity from our plants to the local substations.
• We prioritize restoring power to critical facilities such as hospitals, water pumping sites, wastewater plants, military facilities, and the airports.
• At the same time, we work to return service to the largest number of customers in the shortest amount of time.
• From here, we repair the infrastructure serving smaller groups and neighborhoods, converging on the hardest hit areas until every customer’s power is restored.

For more information on our power restoration steps, visit hawaiianelectric.com/safety-and-outages/storm-center/storm-restoration-process.

1 p.m. update: Field inspections, restoration efforts slowed by  downed lines, fallen trees, storm debris, mud and road closures

As the Kona Low storm continues to impact the islands, hundreds of Hawaiian Electric employees and contractors are working as quickly and safely as possible to conduct damage assessments and restore power to customers. About 38,000 customers remain without power at this time. Downed power lines, fallen trees, storm debris and mud are causing traffic delays in some areas as well.

As of 12 p.m.:

• Oʻahu: About 12,000 customers are without electricity in various locations across the island where crews are addressing recurring outages. H-3 Freeway is closed in both directions at the Halekou Interchange for repairs to a major high-voltage transmission line serving Windward Oʻahu. 
• Maui County: About 9,700 customers remain without power, including areas of Upcountry, South and East Maui. Today, crews are conducting ground and aerial inspections in East Maui and Kula.
• Hawaiʻi Island: About 16,000 customers are without power, with the majority in Puna and North and South Kona. As the weather improves, damage assessments have begun and repairs are being made to several transmission lines that were damaged by the storm.

More than 300 crewmembers are in the field doing damage assessment and making repairs. Estimated restoration times may not be available until inspections are completed and any repairs are made before power can be safely restored.

While the weather may have temporary periods of calm in some areas, the forecast calls for more rain and moderate winds throughout Sunday, with potential flash flooding on Maui and Hawaiʻi Island.

All customers are urged to stay prepared for potential extended outages through the remainder of today into early next week as the storm continues to make its way across the state. See Storm Restoration Process | Hawaiian Electric.

The outage numbers above represent a snapshot in time and are subject to change as stated above. Customers can view current outages and report outages on the outage map at hawaiianelectric.comand on the mobile app.

9 a.m. update: Hundreds of Hawaiian Electric personnel mobilized for damage assessments, power restoration

Overnight and early this morning, Hawaiian Electric restored power to more than 30,000 customers on Oʻahu and Hawaiʻi Island, while Maui and Hawaiʻi Island are continuing damage assessments in areas they can access. Around 49,000 customers still remain without power across the utility’s three counties. Each island is in a different phase of recovery as the storm makes its way down the island chain. Crews are working as quickly and safely as possible to restore power to areas they can access to begin assessing damages and make repairs.

As of 8 a.m.:

• Oʻahu: About 13,000 customers are without electricity in various locations, with more than 25,000 restored overnight and early this morning.
• Maui County: About 9,300 customers remain without power, including areas of Upcountry, South, and East Maui. Weather permitting, aerial inspections of East Maui and Kula will begin today.
• Hawaiʻi Island: About 27,000 customers are without power, mostly in Puna, North and South Kona and South Point, with nearly 5,000 restored overnight. Today’s focus will be on field inspections and repairing transmission lines.

Hawaiian Electric has more than 300 crewmembers in the field doing damage assessment and making repairs. Estimated restoration times may not be available until inspections are completed and any repairs are made before power can be safely restored.

While the weather may have temporary periods of calm, the forecast calls for more rain and moderate winds throughout Sunday, with potential flash flooding on Maui and Hawaiʻi Island.

All customers are urged to stay prepared for potential extended outages through the remainder of today into early next week as the storm continues to make its way across the state. See Storm Restoration Process | Hawaiian Electric.

The outage numbers above represent a snapshot in time and are subject to change as stated above. Customers can view current outages and report outages on the outage map at hawaiianelectric.com and on the mobile app.