UPDATE: Thousands Still Without Power After Windy Weekend

***Updated at 5:45 p.m. to include Hawai’i Electric Light’s Sunday afternoon update.***

Power has been restored to about 1,100 customers in the Puna and North Kohala districts, but 2,900 remain without electric service.

As of 4 p.m. Sunday, many areas in the Puna district were still without power, including portions of Leilani Estates, Nanawale, Lanipuna, Hawaiian Paradise Park, Orchidland, Ainaloa, Hawaiian Beaches, Nanawale, Tangerine Acres, Leilani Estates, Fern Forest, Fern Acres, Hawaiian Acres, Eden Roc, Wood Valley, South Point, and Ahualoa.

Hawai’i Electric Light said in a statement that its crews had worked throughout the day to restore power to portions of Kapoho, Vacationland, Hawaiian Beaches, Hawaiian Paradise Park, Orchidland, Ainaloa, Waimea, and North Kohala.

“We want to assure customers that our employees are committed to restoring power as safely as possible,” said Kristen Okinaka, Hawai‘i Electric Light spokeswoman, in a statement. “Work is being done to restore power to every community even if crews are not working in your neighborhood. In many cases, crews must complete additional work on the electric system in other locations first.”

Extensive damage was reported in some areas of Hawaiian Beaches, Hawaiian Shores, Nanawale, Leilani Estates, and Lanipuna, and customers in those areas are advised that they could face extended outages through the week.

***Updated information posted at 1 p.m. to include new information from Hawai’i Electric Light.***

About 4,000 people are still without power around the Big Island as windy conditions start to ease.

At 11 a.m. Sunday, Hawai’i Electric Light reported that outages remained in portions of Hawaiian Paradise Park, Orchidland, Ainaloa, Hawaiian Beaches, Kapoho, Nanawale, Leilani Estates, Tangerine Acres, Lanipuna, Fern Forest, Fern Acres, Hawaiian Acres, Eden Roc, Wood Valley, South Point, Waimea, North Kohala, and Ahualoa.

Since the company’s last update, issued at 6 p.m. Saturday, power was restored to certain parts of Hawaiian Paradise Park, North Kohala, Hawaiian Acres, Hawaiian Shores, Aloha Estates, Volcano Village, Hawi, and Hilo.

A company spokesperson said that crews are working throughout the day, “assessing damage, clearing fallen trees and debris, and replacing damaged infrastructure.”

Several areas in the Puna district are advised that power may not come back immediately. Residents in Hawaiian Beaches, Hawaiian Shores, Kapoho, Nanawale, and Leilani Estates are being asked to prepare for extended outages that could last through the week.

***Original story posted at 9:32 a.m.***

Some portions of the Big Island could face extended outages due to this weekend’s windy weather.

According to a Saturday evening status update, Hawai’i Electric Light reported that customers in Hawaiian Beaches, Hawaiian Shores, Nanawale, and Leilani Estates are warned that current power outages in the area could “last into next week and in some areas, much longer.”

Approximately 5,000 were without power, as of 5:30 p.m. Saturday. Those outages were reported in Hawaiian Paradise Park, Orchidland, Ainaloa, Fern Forest, Fern Acres, Hawaiian Acres, Eden Roc, Aloha Estates, Volcano Village, Hawi, Wood Valley, Hilo, and Waimea, as well as the aforementioned Puna locations that could see extended outages.

Crews were able to make progress early last night, according to the following tweet sent by the company’s twitter page:

740p #BigIslandOutage update: Kapoho – Pahoa Road, Vacationland, Beachlots areas have been restored. Thank you again for your patience.

— HawaiiElectricLight (@HIElectricLight) February 15, 2015

The power outages were caused by downed trees, some of which knocked down power lines and power poles. The electric company said that the windy conditions have made things unsafe for tree trimmers and road crews to immediately get to tree and road clearing work.

Hawai’i Electric Light reminds the public that any downed power pole should be treated as energized and dangerous. To report a downed pole or other power related issues, the company’s trouble line is 969-6666.