© 2024 Hawaiʻi Public Radio
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

An estimated 3.2K Hawaiian Electric customers are without power on Oʻahu, Maui and Hawaiʻi Island

Downtown Honolulu without power on Dec. 7, 2021.
Hawaiian Electric
Downtown Honolulu without power on Dec. 7, 2021.

Updated 2:00 p.m. Wednesday

An estimated 3,200 Hawaiian Electric customers on Oʻahu, Maui and the Big Island are still without power as of 1 p.m. Wednesday. Big Island residents make up the bulk of that with 2,600 outages, the company said.

"While most will be restored today, customers who are still without power should plan for the potential of at least another day without electricity," HECO said Wednesday.

HECO says power has been restored to 80% of downtown Honolulu as of Wednesday morning. Those who have power restored should be aware of brief outages as crews test circuits and restore more power, HECO said.

The Iwilei substation and numerous vaults with underground electric equipment were flooded Monday night, cutting power to some buildings — including the Hawaiʻi State Capitol. Power to the Hawaiʻi State Capitol, U.S. District Court and others was restored Tuesday morning, HECO said.

Buildings that house the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court, Intermediate Court of Appeals, and various State Judiciary administrative offices are closed Wednesday due to the ongoing power outage. They are expected to open Thursday.

Hawaiian Electric crews on Maui on Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021.
Hawaiian Electric
Hawaiian Electric crews on Maui on Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021.

On Maui, there are scattered outages in Pukalani, Kula, Ha‘ikū, Wailuku, Lahaina and Hana, HECO reports. An estimated 200 customers are still without power. The Haleakalā Crater summit will remain without power for an extended time due to downed power lines, HECO said.

On Hawaiʻi Island, there are "widespread outages" in Puna and Kona, affecting about 2,600 customers. Most outages were caused by fallen trees, HECO said.

"Several more crews from Oʻahu arrived on Maui and Hawaiʻi Island this morning to assist with outage restoration. An estimated 200 employees are solely focused on restoration work," HECO said Wednesday.

There were no significant outages on Molokaʻi or Lanaʻi, HECO said.

The Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation said Tuesday afternoon both lanes of Kekaulike Avenue on Maui between mile marker 8 and Alae Road remained closed. Major utility repairs to remove fallen trees from power lines and replace downed poles have been completed, DOT said. Utility work and road repairs continue.

On Oʻahu, all lanes of Farrington Highway near Makua Cave are back open Wednesday after crews cleared landslide and rockfall debris.

The City and County of Honolulu will waive all permit fees related to emergency work caused by this week’s Kona Low storm system.

Residents can begin repair work immediately, as long as they file their application the next working day with the Department of Planning and Permitting.

As of Wednesday morning, there were 180 reports of residential property damage. Most of the damage occurred between Pearl City and East Oʻahu.

The Honolulu Department of Emergency Management is asking Oʻahu residents and businesses to report storm-related damages.

Maui County residents are asked to report damages through an online form available at www.mauicounty.gov.

Hawaiʻi County residents can also report damage online or call Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense at (808) 935-0031 or (808) 935-0032.

Kauaʻi County residents can report damages here.

A flood watch was in effect for Kauaʻi County until 6 a.m. Wednesday. Brown water advisories remain for Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Maui and Hawaiʻi Island.

Sophia McCullough is a digital news producer. Contact her at news@hawaiipublicradio.org.
Related Stories