Over 88K still without power across Hawaii after Lala damages grid lines

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Approximately 88,670 customers across Hawaii remain without power as utility crews work to restore power knocked out by Lala as of 7 p.m. on Monday.

Read more First Alert Forecast: Tropical Storm Lala moves west but showers linger

The tropical cyclone 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 by county

As of 7 p.m. Monday:

Restoration efforts hampered, extended outages expected

On Hawaiʻi Island, some customers in the hardest-hit rural areas are being asked to prepare for extended outages that could last weeks or even months. About 25 teams began damage assessments today and will continue working in areas of Kohala, Upper Puna, Honoka‘a and South Kona tomorrow.

Hawaiian Electric crews repaired three major transmission lines and teams were deployed to Puna and Kona Mauka for damage assessments. Vegetation management crews are trimming and removing trees and branches that fell on transmission lines. Additionally, teams of engineers are flying out to Hawaiʻi Island from Oʻahu tomorrow to support restoration efforts. As restoration work continues, customers in heavily damaged rural areas are asked to prepare for extended outages.

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.

The utility said a few remaining spot outages remain on West Maui, Central and South Maui. Crews made significant progress through the day after damage assessments were completed and repairs made to transmission lines that enabled the restoration of a majority of impacted West and South Maui customers.

Damage assessments by helicopter and drones are taking place on Hawaiʻi Island and Maui on Sunday, with Oʻahu assessments scheduled to begin Monday.

Hawaiian Electric says aerial inspections by helicopter and drones have helped to expedite damage assessments in remote areas, including in rugged and remote terrain not accessible by foot. While crews are working diligently to complete the inspections and repair damaged infrastructure, Tropical Storm Lala has left flooding, uprooted trees and unstable ground in some areas that have limited access and slowed restoration.

HECO added that several main transmission lines—the backbone of the power grid—were heavily impacted by the storm. Officials noted that because some of these lines cross remote, mountainous terrain and span miles, repairs will be highly challenging and may require crews to hike in.

On Kauai, the Kauai Island Utility Cooperative crews are working to restore power to as many members as possible. But due to current conditions, power is not expected to be restored Sunday night in Kōkeʻe, Mt. Kahili, Kīpū and Wainiha.

Restoration efforts in those areas will resume as soon as conditions allow, KIUC said.

General areas restored overnight on Oahu were:

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.

Read more County-by-county: How to report storm damage in Hawaii after Lala

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.

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.

“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.

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.

Read more First Alert Forecast: Calm weather expected through Thursday

Click here for more information.