KIUC restores 81% of Kauai power; some North Shore restorations could begin in days

News admin September 14, 2026 0 Comments

KIUC restores 81% of Kauai power; some North Shore restorations could begin in days

KAUAI (HawaiiNewsNow) – Approximately 81% of Kauaʻi’s power was restored Sunday as the Kauai Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC) received utility vehicles from its mutual aid, while some North Shore power could be restored in the coming days.

On Sunday, KIUC said 1,850 additional customers were restored.

The utility said pocket outages remain in portions of Anahola, Kapa‘a, Wailua, Līhu‘e, Po‘ipū, ʻŌmaʻo, Kalāheo, Lāwa‘i, Hanapēpē, Kaumakani and Kōke‘e.

North Shore restoration update

KIUC and Hawaii Electric (HECO) crews addressed repairs to transmission poles on the Hanalei side of the Hanalei Bridge Sunday, the utility said. Drivers were advised to prepare for traffic delays during the work.

Work that requires a lane closure of Kuhio Highway began at 9 a.m. Sunday, and the Hawaii National Guard provided escort for crews and materials.

The state’s Department of Transportation also assisted with vegetation and debris clearing in Princeville, KIUC said.

The utility said the Kauai Police Department will overnight security for equipment and materials as North Shore restoration work continues.

The first restorations are expected to take place early this week in the Kilauea, Princeville and Hanalei areas, according to KIUC president and CEO David Bissell.

“We will know much more in the next couple of days as we gauge the progress of our crews,” Bissell said.

On Friday, Bissel surveyed damage on the North Shore and met with community members in Princeville and Hanalei to share a general roadmap for restoration of about 5,000 accounts served by the North Shore transmission line.

KIUC said there is no estimate for full restoration of the north shore, as damage to utility infrastructure, especially along Powerline Road, is extensive.

On Thursday, KIUC said it would commit 10 crews to work on the north shore restoration effort.

Mutual aid arrives

Nearly 100 personnel from HECO, Southern California Edison (SCE) and HMS Construction began arriving on Thursday to help KIUC’s line crews and contractors.

Roughly 250 KIUC personnel will be deployed to field operations in the restoration effort.

KIUC said that, at Gov. Josh Green’s request, U.S. Air Force crews transported six SCE utility trucks that arrived Saturday. SCE personnel and crews assisted in power restoration efforts after Hurricane Lala.

“We are grateful for the assistance of Governor Josh Green in making arrangements for the arrival of these vital supplies, which will greatly accelerate our ability to resolve the remaining outages,” Bissell said.

Safety information

KIUC also announced it has suspended collections activities for delinquent accounts until storm recovery is complete.

With many residents operating gas-powered generators, officials are urging extreme caution. Generators must be kept outdoors, at least 20 feet away from homes with exhaust pointed away from doors and windows, to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. Residents should never plug a generator directly into a household outlet due to the risk of back feeding utility lines, and generators should always be allowed to cool before refueling.