HECO urges residents to prepare for wildfire season

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Hawaiian Electric is encouraging residents statewide to prepare for wildfire season.

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HECO said potentially drier conditions and lower rainfall could elevate wildfire concerns this summer and fall, prompting ongoing efforts to strengthen infrastructure in high-risk areas.

One of those efforts is a project in Lahaina, where Hawaiian Electric has begun replacing 19 wooden utility poles along Honoapiilani Highway with composite poles designed to better withstand high winds and reduce wildfire risk.

Additional projects planned later this summer include pole replacements along Farrington Highway on Oahu’s Waianae Coast and upgrades to utility lines in Waimea and Kawaihae on Hawaii Island.

According to Hawaiian Electric, the company replaced 1,650 utility poles and upgraded 850 others in 2025. Other improvements include trimming vegetation along more than 2,300 miles of circuits, plus the installation of 144 AI-assisted fire detection cameras and 101 weather stations statewide.

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“Managing wildfire risk is a shared responsibility,” said Jim Alberts, Hawaiian Electric’s senior vice president and chief operations officer. “We’re taking action to strengthen our system in high-risk areas, and we encourage our customers and communities to prepare as well.”

The company is urging residents to clear dry vegetation around their homes, trim tree branches away from structures, build emergency kits and familiarize themselves with evacuation routes before wildfire conditions worsen.

For more on preparedness resources, safety information and updates on wildfire mitigation projects visit www.hawaiianelectric.com.

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