Hawaiian Electric Restores Power to Thousands After Oahu Flooding, Ongoing Repairs in Other Islands

HONOLULU – Hawaiian Electric (HECO) continues to restore power to customers across Oahu, Hawaii Island, and Maui County following recent severe storms and flooding. As of Saturday, March 21, 2026, approximately 6,500 customers remained without electricity, with the majority of outages concentrated on Oahu’s North Shore.

Oahu Restoration Efforts

HECO has successfully restored power to 2,200 customers in the Waimea and Kuilima/Turtle Bay areas after clearing the Waialua Substation of floodwater, debris, and damage. Power lines feeding from the substation were also confirmed to be undamaged. Restoration efforts are now focused on the 900 customers in the Kawailoa area, who are also served by the Waialua Substation.

The Waialua Substation was initially de-energized on Friday, March 20, 2026, impacting all customers served by it as a safety precaution.

Safety Precautions for Returning Residents

HECO is urging all customers in impacted areas, including those returning from evacuations, to take the following safety measures:

• Ensure electrical outlets are clear of any water.
• Shut off the main breaker.
• Wait for Hawaiian Electric to announce it is safe to turn the main breaker back on.
• Report any damage to power lines or poles to Hawaiian Electric’s Trouble Line at 1-855-304-1212.

Downed power lines should be treated as energized and dangerous. Further safety information is available on the Hawaiian Electric website.

Outages on Hawaii Island and Maui County

Ongoing heavy rain and wind continue to pose a threat of new outages across the state. As of 1:30 p.m. HST on Saturday, March 21, 2026, the following outages were reported:

• Maui County: Approximately 170 customers without power.
• Hawaiʻi Island: Approximately 230 customers without power, primarily in the Puna area. Restoration work is focused on Upper & Lower Puna, Wood Valley, and Kapapala Ranch.
• Oʻahu: Roughly 6,500 customers without electricity, including 6,400 in the North Shore area.

Hawaiian Electric’s Commitment to Sustainability

Hawaiian Electric, established in 1891, serves 95% of Hawaii’s 1.4 million residents across Oahu, Maui, Hawaii, Lanai, and Molokai. The utility is committed to providing affordable, reliable, clean, and sustainable energy and is making progress towards its clean energy goals, as outlined in its 2025-2026 Sustainability Report.