About 70 Hawaiian Electric customers still without power because of strong Big Island earthquake

Hawaiian Electric continued working at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 23, to restore power to the remaining customers without power because of the strong magnitude-6.0 earthquake that struck shortly before 10 p.m. Friday, May 22, in South Kona on the west side of the Big Island.

The electric utility reported that about 70 of the 1,000 customers who lost power because of the earthquake are still without power until crews can complete repairs.

Hawai‘i County Civil Defense Administrator Talmadge Magno said Saturday morning that some of those who experienced outages were because of more significant damage, even to the point where power lines separated from their homes.

He said there also might have been damage to some electrical transformers.

Crews have been working since late Friday night and early Saturday morning to restore power to customers affected by the earthquake .

Hawaiian Electric also continued power restoration efforts for about 20 customers in Keauhou who remain without power Saturday morning because of an early morning traffic crash.

Meanwhile, the utility’s incident management team is still keeping a close watch on wind speeds and humidity levels in the Kawaihae and Waikōloa areas on the Big Island, as well as in West Maui and parts of Ōmaʻopio and Pulehu in Kahului, Maui.

Public safety power shutoffs remain possible during the next 24 hours in those communities because of their high exposure to wildfire risk.

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

The public is also reminded that downed power lines should be considered energized and dangerous. Stay at least 30 feet or more away from all power lines. Warn others to stay away.

Call 9-1-1 for emergency assistance. Customers can call the Hawaiian Electric Trouble Line for Hawaiʻi Island at 1-855-304-9191 with any other questions or concerns.

Visit the Hawaiian Electric website or call Hawaiian Electric’s Public Safety Power Shutoff Hotline toll-free at 1-844-483-8666 for additional information about the program and maps of areas with high wildfire risk.