Power outages impact 88K in Hawaii as Hurricane Lala hampers utility crews

News admin August 16, 2026 0 Comments

Power outages impact 88K in Hawaii as Hurricane Lala hampers utility crews

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Hurricane-force wind and rain from Lala is hampering Hawaiian Electric crews who have been working around the clock to restore power to customers on Hawaiʻi Island, in Maui County and on Oʻahu.

On Hawaiʻi Island and Maui, customers who are currently without power will remain without electricity at least overnight. Once the weather improves, damage assessments will need to be completed and repairs made before power can be restored.

For the safety of crews and the public, restoration work has to halt when the weather gets too dangerous. On Hawaiʻi Island, hazardous conditions on the roadways such as flooding and downed trees have also prompted the Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense Agency to ask crews to stay off the roads.

Work in Maui County and on Oʻahu will continue until the storm gets closer to those areas and forces Hawaiian Electric personnel to take shelter.

Hawaiian Electric, which is part of the Western Region Mutual Assistance Group, will be bringing in crews from other electric utilities to help expedite restoration. This help is anticipated to arrive as early as Tuesday.

Latest outage numbers by county

As of 7 p.m.:

Report downed power lines

Customers can call Hawaiian Electric’s Trouble Lines to report any downed power lines, which should always be treated as energized and dangerous.

Restoration efforts

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

Hawaiian Electric spokesperson Darren Pai said assessing damage along transmission lines can be especially challenging because they often run through rural areas, mountainous terrain and off-road locations.

“It can be quite intensive to go out and do those kinds of inspections to determine exactly what needs to be fixed so we can get the power back on,” Pai said.

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.

Pai said more than 500 Hawaiian Electric employees and support workers are on duty and available to respond across Oahu, Maui County and Hawaii Island. The utility also brought in additional contractors and stocked equipment, replacement poles, power lines and transformers ahead of the storm.

“We have been preparing for this, not just all week, but we prepare year-round for these types of emergencies,” Pai said. “Our crews are out there in force, and we’ll stay on the job as long as we’re able to do the work safely.”

Pai said strong winds and heavy rain bringing down trees and breaking branches are the main cause of outages during this type of weather.

Watch Pai’s full interview here:

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.