Power outages impact nearly 260K in Hawaii as Tropical Storm Lala hampers utility crews

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

Read more Hurricane Lala lashes Hawaii Island with damaging winds, flooding rain

More than 250,900 customers remain without power as Tropical Storm Lala continues its way south of the islands with damaging winds and heavy rainfall.

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

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

Latest outage numbers by county

As of 7 a.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 crews are beginning damage assessments in areas that are accessible on Hawaii Island, Maui and Oahu before power can be restored, and customers should prepare for extended outages lasting weeks or even months in the hardest hit rural areas of Hawaii Island.

HECO has requested personnel from partner electric utilities from the mainland to help expedite post-storm restoration. Roughly 100 crew members are anticipated to arrive as early as Tuesday and could begin work as soon as Wednesday.

More than 63,188 customers across the five islands Hawaiian Electric serves have had power restored since the onset of the storm.

Hawaiian Electric spokesperson Darren Pai said there has been significant damage to the electrical system, including transmission lines, which he described as the “main arteries” and backbone of the system.

“It’s been a challenging situation, but we’ve got our crews out in force, and we are working on getting the power back as quickly as we can,” Pai said. “However, we do want to caution our customers that it is going to take time.”

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 some of the most difficult repairs could be in mountainous areas, deep valleys and other off-road locations. In some cases, helicopters or specialized vehicles may be needed to bring in crews, equipment, replacement poles and power lines.

Read more School closures: 2 on Hawaii Island closed following Lala storm damage

He also cautioned residents not to assume work isn’t underway simply because they don’t see crews in their neighborhood.

“They may be working on a line that is further away, but it is still connected to your neighborhood,” Pai said. “So it’s all part of the effort to get your lights back on.”

Pai said crews were forced to temporarily suspend work during the peak of the storm because high winds made it unsafe for workers to operate bucket trucks 30 to 40 feet in the air.

“Our crews are on the ground working nonstop to get your lights back on,” Pai said.

More than 82,000 customers across the five islands Hawaiian Electric serves have had power restored since the onset of the storm.

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.

Read more Tropical Storm Lala brings heavy rain, flooding threat to Oahu