Hawaiian Electric asks West Maui, Upcountry customers to prepare for possible extended outages into this evening
Crews repairing multiple downed poles, power lines due to high winds
Release Date: 8/8/2023
KAHULUI, Aug. 8, 2023 – As high winds continue to impact the electrical system on Maui, Hawaiian Electric is asking currently affected customers in West Maui and Upcountry to potentially prepare for an extended outage into the late evening as crews are working to complete extensive repairs in these areas. Customers not restored by 7 p.m. this evening can plan for possible overnight outages.
Additional crews are arriving from Oahu to help with the restoration efforts. The company has also activated its Incident Management Team and is working closely with County of Maui Emergency Management Agency and other emergency response organizations.
In West Maui, where approximately 12,400 customers are offline, crews are making repairs to about 30 downed poles and multiple spans of power lines in various areas, including in Puamana along Honoapiilani Highway.
In Upcountry, including parts of Olinda and Piiholo, Makawao and Kula, about 600 customers are affected as crews are making repairs to more than 30 spans of downed power lines.
“Thank you for your continued patience and understanding as our crews and additional resources are working to restore all customers as quickly as possible,” said Shayna Decker, Hawaiian Electric spokesperson. “With the sustained high wind weather, we are seeing additional impacts to our electrical infrastructure at the same time the crews are making repairs so we are asking customers to please prepare for possible extended outages into the night.”
With the forecast of continued high winds, if you see a downed power line, assume it is energized and dangerous. Stay away from downed power lines – at least 30 feet or more (at least two car lengths). Report downed lines immediately by calling Hawaiian Electric’s Trouble Line; the number is 808-871-7777, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
If you must travel, please help protect line workers and crews when you see them on the roadside assessing damages or making emergency repairs. Move over from the lane nearest workers or slow down until you can safely pass the work site.
Use extreme caution when driving. Power interruptions may cause traffic signals to stop working without warning. If you come to an intersection with a non-working traffic signal, treat it as a four-way stop.
If using a portable generator, make sure it is placed in a well-ventilated area (outside the home), and be sure to carefully follow all instructions in the manufacturer’s manual. Visit www.hawaiianelectric.com/electricalsafety for more safety tips.
Restoration information can also be found at the following mobile-friendly resources:
