#PSPS

More than 7,000 customers were without power due to an outage impacting customers from Wailuku to Kahakuloa on Monday night. Some areas of Wailuku had power restored by 9 p.m.

On Wednesday night, Hawaiian Electric initiated a PSPS in the south Kohala area of Hawaiʻi Island when wind gusts exceeded 50 mph and humidity levels dropped below 45%. There were no other PSPS-related outages needed.

Hawaiian Electric has re-energized all circuits impacted in the south Kohala area of Hawai‘i Island by the Public Safety Power Shutoff program. At this time, all customers who can have power restored safely should now have electricity.

At this time, Public Safety Power Shutoff is in a “watch” condition, meaning that if weather conditions intensify in the next 24 to 48 hours Hawaiian Electric may proactively shut off power in communities with high exposure to wildfire risk.

Due to a significant shift in weather with low humidity and strong wind gusts on Hawai‘i Island today, Hawaiian Electric is monitoring conditions that may lead to an increased risk of wildfires. This PSPS watch could also potentially extend to Maui and O‘ahu later this week based on current weather forecasts. 

Hawaiian Electric continues to monitor the threat from high winds and dry conditions and may proactively shut off power in high risk areas on Hawai‘i Island and Maui as part of its Public Safety Power Shutoff program. Areas include Waikiʻi, Kawaihae, Waikoloa, Puakō, and south Kohala on Hawai‘i Island and west Maui, central Maui, and Upcountry.

Hawaiian Electric is monitoring weather conditions that may lead to an increased risk of wildfires. If needed to protect public safety, Hawaiian Electric may implement its Public Safety Power Shutoff program to proactively shut off power in communities with high exposure to wildfire risk.

Qualified Hawaiian Electric customers in wildfire risk areas who are subject to preemptive power shutoffs would be eligible to receive a rebate for the purchase of backup power equipment, under a new company proposal.

The Hawai‘i Rotary District 5000 Foundation is continuing its Maui Fires Relief Fund efforts, directing $40,000 to a bold new pilot project designed to bring emergency power to wildfire-impacted communities.

With the cancellation of the National Weather Service’s Red Flag Warning for all Hawaiian Islands at 3:34 p.m., Hawaiian Electric has ended its Public Safety Power Shutoff watch.

Hawaiian Electric continues to closely monitor weather conditions particularly for leeward portions of all Hawaiian islands and interior sections of Hawai‘i Island where a Red Flag Warning remains in effect through 6 p.m. If necessary to protect public safety, Hawaiian Electric may implement its Public Safety Power Shutoff program to proactively shut off power in communities with high exposure to wildfire risk. 

The Hawaiʻi Department of Health is encouraging residents who rely on electric- or battery-powered medical devices to prepare for potential power outages. A Red Flag Warning is in effect until 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 1, due to heightened wildfire risk, underscoring the importance of power outage preparedness.

At this time, Public Safety Power Shutoff is in a “watch” condition, meaning that if weather conditions intensify in the next 24 to 48 hours Hawaiian Electric may proactively shut off power in communities with high exposure to wildfire risk. During this watch period, customers in these areas are urged to initiate their own emergency plans and prepare for the possibility of extended power outages.

Some farmers lost thousands of dollars in products when their generators couldn’t keep their operations going. But even the hardest-hit businesses and their neighbors say shutting off the power is a good measure to prevent another tragedy like the 2023 wildfires in Lahaina and Upcountry.

With weather conditions improving, Hawaiian Electric has ended its Public Safety Power Shutoff watch, which had been in effect for Maui and Hawaiʻi Island since Saturday.

Power remains on in communities with high exposure to wildfire risk. However, Hawaiian Electric continues to monitor the threat from high winds and dry conditions. The company may proactively shut off power in Public Safety Power Shutoff areas on Maui and Hawaiʻi Island as part of its PSPS program, which continues in a watch condition that started on Saturday.

Hawaiian Electric has restored electricity to all affected customers, about 330 in parts of Upcountry Maui, impacted by its Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) program. Overnight crews and additional personnel who have been working since 6 a.m. completed inspections of the circuits enabling all customers to be restored. If hazardous conditions suddenly return, it may be necessary to shut off the power in identified PSPS areas on Maui and Hawai‘i Island to reduce the risk of a wildfire.

As first responders, emergency management agencies and landowners prepare for a dry summer, Hawaiian Electric reports it is readying its Public Safety Power Shutoff program to reduce the risk of ignitions from its equipment in dry and windy conditions.

With hurricane and wildfire season coming up, Hawaiian Electric hosts a West Maui Emergency Preparedness Open House event to help prepare residents and their communities on Saturday, May 3, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., at the Lahaina Intermediate School cafeteria. 

With hurricane and wildfire season coming up, Hawaiian Electric is hosting two emergency preparedness open house events to help prepare residents and their communities. One will be held Saturday, April 26 at the King Kekaulike High School Cafeteria. The other will be held Saturday, May 3, at the Lahaina Intermediate School Cafeteria.