Hawaiian Electric Restores Power to Thousands After Kona Storm, Outages Persist
HONOLULU – Hawaiian Electric crews are making progress in restoring power across Oahu, Maui County and Hawaii Island following a powerful storm that began impacting the state on Friday, March 13, 2026. While significant strides have been made, tens of thousands of customers remain without electricity as of Sunday, March 15, 2026.
Storm Impact and Restoration Efforts
The storm, characterized by powerful winds and heavy rain, initially caused widespread outages, affecting approximately 121,020 customers on Friday, March 13th. A major transmission line on Oahu was restored on Saturday, bringing power back to 29,000 customers according to Hawaiian Electric.
As of Sunday morning, Hawaiian Electric reported restoring power to over 30,000 customers on Oahu and Hawaii Island as reported by Island News. Still, approximately 49,000 customers statewide are still experiencing outages.
Current Outage Numbers (as of Sunday, March 15, 2026)
- Oahu: Approximately 13,000 customers without power, with over 25,000 restored overnight and early Sunday morning. Affected areas include Wahiawa, Waipahu, Manoa, Kahala, Kaimuki, Kaneohe, Kailua, Ewa Beach, and Hawaii Kai.
- Maui County: About 9,300 customers remain without power, particularly in Upcountry, South, and East Maui. Aerial inspections of East Maui and Kula are planned, weather permitting.
- Hawaii Island: Roughly 27,000 customers are without power, primarily in Puna, North and South Kona, and South Point, with nearly 5,000 restored overnight.
Challenges to Restoration
Crews are facing challenges in restoring power due to ongoing hazardous weather conditions and, in some areas, limited accessibility. On Oahu, the Hawaii Kai and East Honolulu areas are currently serviced by a single transmission line. Damage to this remaining line would likely result in extended outages due to difficult terrain and weather conditions as stated by Hawaiian Electric. Similar challenges are impacting restoration efforts in Maui County and on Hawaii Island.
HECO Urges Preparedness
Hawaiian Electric officials are urging customers to prepare for potential extended outages through the remainder of the day and into early next week as the storm continues to move across the state .
Contact and Reporting Information
Customers can report outages and view current outage information on the Hawaiian Electric outage map at hawaiianelectric.com or through the mobile app. HECO’s trouble lines are available at the following numbers:
- Oahu: 1-855-304-1212
- Maui County: 1-855-304-8181
- Hawaii Island: 1-855-304-9191