Electricity is a commodity often taken for granted until it suddenly goes dark. Approximately 20,000 customers in East Honolulu felt that abrupt disconnection Tuesday morning, following a major power outage that initially left many without service. According to KHON2, Hawaiian Electric reported the outage and confirmed that it was not related to their Public Safety Power Shutoff program. As crews worked diligently, power was progressively restored, and by 9 a.m., the number of impacted customers had dropped to around 5,270.

Evidence of the outage's broad impact surfaced as traffic signals went dark on Kalanianaole Highway, stretching from Lunalilo Home Road to Kalaniiki Street. The Department of Transportation urged drivers to exercise caution and treat all intersections as four-way stops. Hawaiian Electric crews are not only busy in East Honolulu but also responding to another outage in the Kaneohe area, affecting hundreds. A Hawaiian Electric spokesperson hinted to Hawaii News Now that weather may have played a factor, though the official cause remained under investigation.

In the midst of uncertainty and inconvenience, the community of East Honolulu—from Aina Haina to Waimanalo—navigated the sudden plunge into darkness. The outage spanned across numerous neighborhoods, listing Aina Haina, Hahaione, Hawaii Loa Ridge, and several others in its unwelcome embrace. During these pressing hours, Hawaiian Electric continued to post updates via social media, keeping residents informed as the situation progressed.