UPDATE: Hawaiian Electric to continue monitoring wildfire risk conditions overnight in areas of Big Island, Maui

This story was updated at 5:52 p.m. Thursday, May 21, 2026:

Public safety power shutoffs remain possible in some areas of the Big Island and Maui as Hawaiian Electric will continue to closely monitor wildfire risk conditions of high winds and dry conditions under a public safety power shutoff watch.

The utility firm, if necessary, could proactively shut off power within the next 24 hours in communities with high exposure to wildfire risk. That includes the Kawaihae and Waikōloa areas on Hawai‘i Island, as well as parts of Ōmaʻopio and Pulehu in Kahului in West Maui.

Customers in these areas are urged to initiate their own emergency plans and prepare for the possibility of outages that could last several hours to days.

Any current power outages are not related to the company’s public safety power shutoff program.

Hawaiian Electric also warns customers about scammers visiting homes, identifying themselves as representatives of the utility, a government agency or the public safety power shutoff program.

Employees do not show up unannounced at a customer’s home or business to collect a balance, inspect equipment inside their home or sell equipment or systems.

They drive a company-branded vehicle and present their Hawaiian Electric photo identification badge.

Call Hawaiian Electric Customer Service to verify an employee or report a scam.

The public safety power shutoff watch went into effect earlier Thursday, May 21, because of high winds and dry conditions forecast in the above areas, increasing wildfire risk.

National Weather Service forecasters in Honolulu issued a wind advisory until 6 a.m. Friday, May 22, for Hawai‘i County as northeast winds of 20 to 30 mph are expected, gusting up to 50 mph.

Call Hawaiian Electric’s Public Safety Power Shutoff Hotline at 1-844-483-8666 toll-free or visit the Hawaiian Electric website for additional information and public safety power shutoff region maps.

Hawaiian Electric urges customers to check emergency equipment such as flashlights and lanterns to make sure they are operational, extra batteries, emergency generators, battery-operated radios and light sticks.

The power company advises having a battery-powered radio on hand to listen for updates on weather conditions and possible PSPS outage implementation.

Residents who depend on electrically powered, life-sustaining medical equipment should check backup facilities. Customers also should plan where to go if an evacuation is ordered.

Stay at least 30 feet away from all power lines and assume a downed power line is energized and dangerous.

Call 9-1-1 for emergency assistance. Call the Trouble Line at 1-855-304-9191.