Over 23k customers remain without power on Hawaii Island, Maui, Oahu

News admin August 15, 2026 0 Comments

Over 23k customers remain without power on Hawaii Island, Maui, Oahu

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Thousands of customers are without power as Tropical Storm Lala brings powerful winds and heavy rain across parts of the state.

Hawaiian Electric said crews, contractors and support staff have been deployed across its five-island service territory and are responding to outages caused by the storm’s outer bands.

Officials say crews have been making steady progress, restoring electricity to 20,240 customers on Hawaii Island and 730 in Maui County who were affected by the powerful winds and pounding rain overnight and this morning.

As of 11 a.m. Saturday, aAbout 18,700 customers are without power in North and South Hilo, North and South Kohala, Hamakua and Puna.

In Maui County, approximately 5,180 customers are without power in the Upcountry areas of Makawao, Pukalani and Kula, as well as a part of Haʻikū and Puʻukoliʻi in West Maui.

On Oahu, roughly 150 customers don’t have electricity, with nearly 1,300 restored since the onset of the storm.

Restoration efforts

Hawaiian Electric said crews will begin damage assessments as soon as conditions are safe.

The utility said restoration efforts will prioritize safety and essential community services, while working to restore power in a way that benefits the greatest number of customers first.

Damage assessments must be completed before repairs and restoration can begin.

Staying safe

HECO is urging residents to stay away from downed power lines, flooding and debris as dangerous conditions could remain even after winds subside.

Downed power lines should always be treated as energized. The public should stay at least 30 feet away and report dangerous situations involving downed lines or sparking electrical equipment.

Drivers should also use caution around crews working along roadways and treat intersections with non-working traffic signals as four-way stops.

Customers using portable generators should keep them outside in well-ventilated areas and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

Hawaiian Electric said customers can check its website or mobile app for the latest outage information and estimated restoration times.

Power preparedness tips

HECO recommends these emergency preparedness tips:

Click here for more tips.

HECO recommends following them online, and on their social media accounts on Twitter/X @HwnElectric, @mauielectric, and @hielectriclight, and on Facebook.