Nearly 37K still without power across Hawaii after Lala damages grid lines

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Approximately 36,800 customers across Hawaii remain without power as of 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, as utility crews work to restore power knocked out by Tropical Cyclone Lala.

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The storm passed south of the islands first as a hurricane, then a tropical storm, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.

Road closures, flooding, fallen trees, and ongoing severe weather have slowed the restoration process in multiple areas, utility officials said.

Latest outage numbers and updates by county as of 2:30 p.m. Tuesday:

Restoration efforts hampered, extended outages expected

As of 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, Hawaiian Electric reported about 86% of impacted customers’ power has been restored.

The company expects 95% of all impacted customers statewide to be restored by Aug. 21, except for certain remote and severely damaged areas of South Hawaii Island.

Areas of Puna, North and South Kohala, and southern Ka‘u — including Naalehu, Punaluu and Kilauea — could take at least two weeks to restore.

Hawaiian Electric crews repaired three major transmission lines, while teams were deployed to Puna and Kona Mauka for damage assessments. Vegetation management crews are also trimming and removing trees and branches that fell on transmission lines.

Teams of engineers are flying from Oahu to Hawaii Island to support restoration efforts.

Damage assessments by helicopter and drones began on Hawaii Island and Maui on Sunday and on Oahu Monday. HECO said the aerial inspections are helping crews assess rugged areas that are difficult or impossible to reach by foot.

Tropical Storm Lala left flooding, uprooted trees and unstable ground in some areas, limiting access and slowing restoration efforts.

HECO said several major transmission lines — the backbone of the power grid — were heavily damaged. Because some span miles of mountainous terrain, repairs could be especially difficult and may require crews to hike into affected areas.

Out-of-state assistance requested

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.

HECO spokesman Darren Pai cautioned residents not to assume work isn’t underway simply because they don’t see crews in their neighborhood.

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“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.

Charging stations available in some areas

In Upcountry Maui, extended power outages prompted the Maui Emergency Management Agency and American Red Cross to open a charging station equipped with Wi-Fi at 7 p.m. Sunday at the Eddie Tam Memorial Center social hall, 931 Makawao Ave. The area will double as a shelter.

Nine charging stations also opened on Hawaii Island through Vibrant Hawaii and other community partners.

How to check for updates

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

On Kauaʻi, follow KIUC on Facebook or signup for text or email outage notifications via SmartHub.

Report downed power lines

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

Customers on Kauaʻi can call the Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative at (808) 246-4300.

Safety guidelines during outages

Utility officials are urging residents to stay away from downed power lines, flooding, and debris, as dangerous conditions persist. Downed power lines should always be treated as energized and dangerous. The public must stay at least 30 feet away and immediately report any 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.

Additionally, customers using portable generators should keep them outside in well-ventilated areas and strictly follow the manufacturer’s instructions to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.

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