Hundreds at Makaha Valley Towers endure four-day outage: ‘I probably would have been dead’

MĀKAHA (HawaiiNewsNow) – Residents at Mākaha Valley Towers have spent four days without electricity, dealing with spoiled food, extreme heat and challenges keeping essential medical devices running.

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The nearly 600 residents at the West Oahu apartment complex lost power Monday. By Thursday, some residents said the prolonged outage was becoming increasingly difficult to manage.

Evelyn Ibarra has been staying with family in Kāneʻohe so she can keep her heart monitor charged. She said she returned home to find the electricity was still out and had to throw away the food in her refrigerator and freezer.

“I probably would have been dead today,” Ibarra said, explaining that she has a heart device that requires her monitor to remain plugged in.

The outage has also left residents without air conditioning for four days.

Sebastian Lopez said the heat inside his unit became uncomfortable overnight, particularly with little breeze coming through.

“My temperature for comfort is 78,” Lopez said. “And anything lower than that I started to feel cold. But I was actually sweating last night. It was really hot. And the breeze just isn’t blowing like it usually does.”

Holly Naholowaa-Klinger described the experience as “tiring” and “frustrating.”

Hawaiian Electric said the outage is related to repairs needed to the building’s electrical system. The utility said a private electrical contractor is handling the repairs, while Hawaiian Electric’s role is to safely disconnect and restore power as the work is completed.

State Sen. Samantha DeCorte said coordination between the private contractor and Hawaiian Electric has been frustrating for residents.

“You have to have the private electrician and then you have to have HECO out here,” DeCorte said. “And so what’s been happening is the communication has been clashing and the only people that are suffering are the residents.”

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DeCorte said she planned to remain at the complex until power was restored.

As residents wait, community organizations have stepped in with food and other assistance.

Elepaio Social Services provided 500 hot meals to residents at the towers. Alicia Higa with Elepaio said the organization planned to provide another 500 meals Friday.

If power is restored, Higa said the organization is also prepared to hold a pop-up food distribution to help residents replace groceries lost during the outage.

Ibarra said the meals have helped, but she cannot continue waiting at the complex indefinitely because of her medical needs.

“I got me stew and rice, which was nice. I appreciate it,” Ibarra said. “But I cannot stay here and wait until they turn on the electricity, because this is more important, and my life is more important than sitting over here and waiting.”

Residents at one of the towers contacted Hawaii News Now around 4:30 p.m. Thursday and reported that power had returned to their building. That report had not yet been independently confirmed with the building or Hawaiian Electric.

Meanwhile, Elepaio Social Services also distributed food to about 500 Westside families in MAili. Another food distribution is planned for 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Waianae Boat Harbor.

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