Thousands of residents in Central Oahu found themselves without power over the weekend, with Hawaiian Electric working to restore electricity after a significant outage hit areas including Waiau, Waimalu, and Pearl City. The disruption began yesterday morning just after 8 a.m., initially affecting roughly 2,000 customers but quickly ballooning to around 3,430 by mid-morning. By 2:30 p.m., Hawaiian Electric reported, through KITV, that an estimated 1,290 customers were still without power, though some had had their service reinstated.
The source of the outage remains unclear, but the power company assured customers that it was not a Public Safety Power Shutoff and suggested it might be linked to the recent severe weather that included heavy rain. Those affected were directed by Hawaiian Electric to either call their dedicated line or report the outage online to pinpoint their exact location. The company expressed gratitude to the public for their patience during the restoration efforts.
Downtown Honolulu wasn't spared from power issues on the same day either. Around 1:13 p.m., approximately 700 customers experienced disruptions in neighborhoods such as Kalihi, Liliha, and Palama. By 5 p.m., service had been successfully restored to those areas. Real-time updates were made available through an outage map, where residents could also report any ongoing issues. As reported by Hawaii News Now, the statewide adverse weather conditions preceded the power outages, bringing thunderstorms and flash flooding to the region.
In an updated social media post timed at approximately 12:30 p.m., according to Hawaiian Electric, power had returned for some clients. Nevertheless, by late afternoon, the company's reports indicated a rise in the number of affected customers, totaling about 1,735 still awaiting service restoration. Hawaiian Electric projected a 6 p.m. timeline for the return of power to the remaining households and businesses. With crews investigating and the community on edge, the connection between the blackouts and the tempestuous skies continued to be scrutinized.
