#PSPS

Hawaiian Electric has received the 2026 Bronze Emergency Management Award from Chartwell Inc., a leading provider of utility industry research focused on customer-facing issues, which recognized the utility for modernizing its emergency communications in support of its Public Safety Power Shutoff program.

Customers across Oʻahu, Maui County and Hawaiʻi Island are asked to continue to plan for possible extended outages, potentially overnight, as the powerful storm system is expected to make its way across the island chain throughout the weekend.

Hawaiian Electric is urging customers to prepare for extended power outages as a powerful kona storm system makes its way across the islands. While the company is monitoring conditions and preparing for storm-related outages, it does not anticipate implementing its Public Safety Power Shutoff Program despite false claims online.  

Topics include Hawaiian Electric Co.’s Public Safety Power Shutoff program, project updates from the County Department of Public Works and other updates from the Office of Recovery.

With a wind advisory in effect through 6 p.m., Hawaiian Electric will continue to closely monitor weather conditions throughout the night. High wind gusts and low humidity may lead to increased risk for wildfires, particularly in West Maui and in the North and South Kohala areas of Hawaiʻi Island, and may require a Public Safety Power Shutoff within the next 12 to 24 hours.

Hawaiian Electric teams continue to monitor weather conditions that may call for a Public Safety Power Shutoff in parts of Maui and Hawai‘i Island this week. 

Hawaiian Electric is monitoring developing weather conditions which are likely to lead to an increased risk of wildfires in parts of Maui County and Hawaiʻi Island later this week. Customers in these areas are urged to initiate their own emergency plans should a Public Safety Power Shutoff be necessary, and to prepare for the possibility of extended power outages Monday through Thursday.

Last night, power was restored to more than 10,000 West Maui customers who were impacted by a power shutoff. Crews will continue to assess damage and make repairs today.

The Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation is notifying the public that adjustments will be made to traffic patterns in West Maui as the public safety power shut off by Hawaiian Electric continues.

Hawaiian Electric has re-energized all West Maui circuits impacted by the Public Safety Power Shutoff program. At this time, all customers who can have power restored safely should have electricity. However, a PSPS Watch remains in effect for parts of Maui and Hawaiʻi Island.

As of 8 a.m. today, about 300 customers on Oʻahu and 2,000 customers on Maui remain without electricity. Crews have also been addressing pocket outages on Hawaiʻi Island.

The Public Utilities Commission today approved Hawaiian Electric’s 2025-2027 Wildfire Mitigation Plan and completed a comprehensive study on whether to establish a wildfire recovery fund.

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.