HECO 6 p.m. update: 1,220 without power in Hawaiʻi including 220 on Maui

6 p.m. update: Hawaiian Electric mobilizes all available resources in push to restore customers ahead of next storm

While rain hampered efforts in some areas today, Hawaiian Electric is using every resource it has available – including extra personnel, helicopters and heavy equipment – to continue restoration efforts as safely as possible. With the new Kona low approaching, customers are being asked to prepare for any potential extended or new outages.

As of 4 p.m.:

• Hawaiʻi Island: Power was restored to about 60 customers today. About 960 customers who were impacted by the storm remain without power. Today, linemen from O‘ahu, Hilo, Waimea, and Kona, along with two contract line crews, worked in Leilani, Nānāwale, and scattered areas around the island. Repairs in the hardest hit areas were hampered by numerous fallen trees, mostly the brittle Albizia which can grow to more than 150 feet tall. Tree trimming crews have been cutting and removing trees so utility crews could access areas to begin repairs.
• Maui County: About 70 customers were restored today. Crews continue to focus on restoring about 220 remaining customers. Today, some of the critical repairs involved using a helicopter in East Maui where there is no truck access to set a 55-foot pole and deliver digging equipment as well as other restorations in pockets of Maui. 
• Oʻahu: Power was restored to about 20 customers today as crews repaired individual service lines that provide power to neighborhoods. About 40 customers remain without power from the storm in scattered pockets across the island. Although weather didn’t allow for the specialized helicopter work over the Ko‘olau mountain range today, crews adjusted the plans so that transmission line repairs could continue, which provides much needed backup to Hawaiʻi Kai and East Honolulu ahead of the incoming storm.  

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.

9 a.m. update: Hawaiian Electric using heavy equipment, extra personnel to speed restoration efforts ahead of next storm

Overnight and early this morning, Hawaiian Electric restored nearly half of its remaining customers who were without power across Hawaiʻi Island, Maui County and Oʻahu after the powerful Kona low storm. Additional personnel arrived on Hawaiʻi Island today and the company continues preparations for a new stormfront that may impact the state as early as tonight.

Weather permitting, helicopters will be used to transport large equipment to remote areas today. Specialized equipment and heavy machinery such as bulldozers are needed to clear accessways and other debris. In some locations, cranes are required to remove large, uprooted or fallen trees.

As of 8 a.m.:

• Hawaiʻi Island: Power was restored to about 900 customers overnight in the Black Sands, Eden Rock, Fern Acres, Hawaiian Beaches, Hawaiian Paradise Park, Kalapana, Royal Hawaiian, Sea View, and Volcano subdivisions and some parts of Leilani and Nānāwale. Crews also completed critical repairs to transmissions lines, which will help harden the grid ahead of the upcoming storm system. About 1,100 customers who were impacted by the storm remain without power. Today, crews are working in Leilani, Nānāwale, and scattered areas around the island.
• Maui County: Overnight, crews brought more customers back online and today will focus on restoring about 290 remaining customers without power on Maui. Pending favorable weather conditions, a helicopter will be assisting crews with restoration efforts. Due to the upcoming storm forecast, some customers are being directly contacted to prepare for their outage to possibly extend into next week. 
• Oʻahu: Power was restored to about 70 customers overnight. About 60 customers remain without power from the storm in small pockets across the island. Crews continue to make repairs to individual service lines that provide power to neighborhoods. Weather permitting, a specialized helicopter will be assisting crews repair a transmission line over the Ko‘olau mountain range today, which will help provide much needed backup to Hawaiʻi Kai and East Honolulu ahead of the upcoming storm.  

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.