Efforts continue to restore power to Upcountry area by this evening
Piiholo, Olinda, pocket outages asked to prepare for overnight outage
Release Date: 12/6/2021
KAHULUI, Dec. 6, 2021 – Hawaiian Electric crews are working to restore electric service to about 5,600 customers in Upcountry Maui and pockets of Kuau, Haiku and Lahaina currently impacted by the storm system that continues to affect the state. With crews making progress in repairing damaged transmission lines, estimated restoration is anticipated by later this evening for a majority of the affected Upcountry customers.
Customers in the Upper Piiholo and Olinda area are asked to prepare for an extended overnight outage. Downed power lines serving this area are in a remote gulch and with ongoing inclement weather conditions, crews cannot safely access parts of the line to make repairs at this time.
While crews are working as quickly as possible to restore the multiple outages, customers without power by 9 p.m. tonight or who may experience an outage overnight are asked to anticipate for the outages to be extended until tomorrow. The Haleakala Crater summit area is also without power.
Since Sunday, an estimated 22,000 Maui customers experienced brief to extended power outages caused by gusty winds and fallen trees on the island’s transmission and distribution system. Crews worked through the night in areas that were safe to access and continued with restoration efforts today to bring customers in parts of Haiku to Nahiku, Pukalani, Kihei, Paia and Lahaina back online.
It will take time to complete all restoration efforts as crews are addressing accessibility in certain areas where there may be downed trees and debris removal ahead of restoration. The transmission lines must be restored first, followed by any damaged poles, downed distribution and service wires, and other electrical equipment in affected neighborhoods.
Hawaiian Electric also reminds the community to stay at least 30 feet away from downed power lines. Downed power lines are energized and dangerous.
Outage updates are posted on the company’s Twitter account @MauiElectric. To report an outage or downed power line, please call (808) 871-7777.
