Hawaiian Electric calls on customers to prepare for power outages

September 24, 2026, 5:32 PM HST

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Strong winds from Hurricane Lala brought down utility lines fell near the intersection of Piʻiholo and Waiahiwi roads in August. Now, Hawaiian Electric is advising customers to prepare for extended power outages with the approach of Tropical Storm Nolo. PC: Brian Perry

Hawaiian Electric is urging customers to prepare for the possibility of extended power outages due to Tropical Storm Nolo, a powerful storm system that is nearing the state.

“In the past 24 hours, we’ve increased our staffing and have teams standing by to restore power as quickly as possible,” said Jim Alberts, Hawaiian Electric’s senior vice president and chief operations officer. “As long as it’s safe, we’ll work continuously after the storm clears until all customers have power again.”

Crews that were helping Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative following Tropical Storm Lowell are returning to their Hawaiian Electric bases and will be on hand for storm response. Depending on the storm’s ultimate path and intensity, damage to the electrical infrastructure could be extensive. Repairs could take longer, and in extreme cases, require us to rebuild parts of our system. Flooding, fallen structures, debris and other obstacles also can affect the scope of work and speed of power restoration.

Immediately after the storm clears and as soon as it is safe to do so, Hawaiian Electric will send out damage assessors so we can estimate when repairs might be finished and power restored in each affected area. Assessments, especially in remote areas, can take several days depending on the severity of damage, accessibility of roads and availability of helicopters. While the company does use drones, there are line-of-sight limitations.

“We urge our customers to complete their preparations and make safety their highest priority,” Alberts said. “And we thank them in advance for their patience during what we know will be a challenging few days. Please know that we’ll be out in force as soon as it’s safe to work.”

How Hawaiian Electric restores power following a storm

Power isn’t restored based on when customers report an outage, where customers live or the status of accounts. Rather, the company assesses multiple locations and follows an overall plan that calls for restoring power to the largest number of customers as safely and as quickly as possible.

First, damage assessment must be completed once it’s safe for inspectors to be deployed.
Repairs must also be made to any damage at power plants or to the power lines that carry electricity from the plants to the local substations.
Restoring power to critical facilities, such as hospitals, water-pumping sites, wastewater plants, military facilities and airports, are prioritized.
At the same time, the company works to return service to the largest number of customers in the shortest amount of time.
From there, crews repair the infrastructure serving smaller groups and neighborhoods, converging on the hardest hit areas until every customer’s power is restored.

What you can do

If you see a downed power line, assume it is energized and dangerous. Stay at least 30 feet or more away from all power lines. Warn others to stay away. Contact Hawaiian Electric or for emergency assistance call 911.
Prepare to be without power for at least a couple of days and keep a battery-operated radio on hand with a fresh supply of batteries.
If someone in your home is dependent on electrically powered, life-sustaining medical equipment, check backup facilities. Plan where to go should the need for evacuation occurs. If you need to go to the hospital or other emergency shelter, remember to take your medical equipment and medications with you to the facility.
If you plan to use a portable generator after the storm, make sure it is placed in a well-ventilated area outside the home, and be sure to carefully follow all instructions in the manufacturer’s manual.
Keep cash on hand. If power outages do occur, you may not be able to withdraw cash from banks or ATMs.
Turn your refrigerator and freezer to their coldest settings. If power goes out, this will keep food fresher longer.
Turn off and unplug any unnecessary electrical equipment, especially sensitive electronics. In the event of an outage, this will prevent damage to the equipment from surges when power is restored.
If your power goes off, use flashlights or chemical light sticks instead of candles or kerosene lamps, and be careful with cooking flames. Open flames may create a fire hazard, and the fire department may not be able to respond promptly.
If you are cooking when an outage occurs, remember to turn off the stove, oven, or other appliances, and remove all items such as pots and pans from the burners.
Don’t venture out in the dark, because you might not see a downed power line that could be energized and dangerous; avoid standing water and debris.
Visit hawaiianelectric.com/stormcenter for more preparation and safety tips.