Safety-Driven Power Shutoff on O'ahu After Catastrophic Flooding

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Hawaiian Electric has implemented a safety-driven power shutoff on O'ahu following catastrophic flooding, leaving 4,200 customers without power. The utility is coordinating with emergency personnel and will inspect its infrastructure once mandatory evacuation orders are lifted to determine when it will be safe to restore power. Customers on other islands should also remain prepared for the possibility of new or prolonged outages due to a second kona low storm moving across the state.

Why it matters

Power outages can have significant impacts on communities, affecting critical infrastructure, businesses, and daily life. The decision to proactively shut off power is a safety measure to support emergency response efforts, but it also raises questions about the resilience of the electric grid and the preparedness of communities for extreme weather events.

The details

Hawaiian Electric shut off power to support ongoing search and rescue operations in the Waialua and Haleiwa areas of the North Shore of O'ahu. Once the mandatory evacuation orders are lifted, the utility will inspect its infrastructure to determine when it will be safe to restore power to the affected 4,200 customers. If the evacuation notice is lifted after dark, crews must wait until daylight to begin inspections. After inspections are completed and any necessary repairs are made, it will take around four hours to safely restore power.

• On March 20, Hawaiian Electric implemented a safety-driven power shutoff on O'ahu following catastrophic flooding.
• The power shutoff is expected to remain in effect until inspections and any necessary repairs are completed, possibly overnight.

What’s next

Once mandatory evacuation orders are lifted on the North Shore of O'ahu, Hawaiian Electric will inspect its infrastructure to determine when it will be safe to restore power to the affected customers.