Hawaiian Electric adds crews to respond to wind-related outages during Super Bowl weekend

Hawaiian Electric adds crews to respond to
wind-related outages during Super Bowl weekend
HONOLULU, Feb. 11, 2023 – With high winds expected to continue through Super Bowl
Sunday, Hawaiian Electric crews will remain on alert and ready to respond to potential windrelated issues.
“Hawaiian Electric has contingency plans in place whenever extreme weather is expected and
especially with the Super Bowl on Sunday we want to make sure we can respond quickly to any
outages,” said Jim Kelly, a spokesperson for Hawaiian Electric. “We’re hopeful the winds will die
down but we’ll have extra crews on standby just in case.”
To minimize outages, Hawaiian Electric spends more than $20 million annually on vegetation
management to keep trees and other plants clear of overhead power lines. Crews work yearround to upgrade equipment and to build resilience into the electric grids on each island.
For customers gathering for the Super Bowl, here are some reminders:
• Brief power interruptions may occur during windy conditions. Customers may experience
a momentary outage with power restored almost immediately, but cable TV systems can
sometimes take longer to reboot.
• If gathering outdoors, avoid using tents, which could get blown into power lines. If tents
or tarps must be used, ensure they are tied down securely.
• Stack chairs or weigh them down when not in use. Weigh or tie down anything that could
possibly be blown into power lines.
The best way to keep updated on outages or other important notifications is through Hawaiian
Electric’s Twitter feed. Follow @HwnElectric, @MauiElectric or @HIElectricLight. Also, a free
download of the company’s mobile app is available at Apple App and Google Play stores.
Customers may view the outage map and report an outage through the app.
Note that during windy weather, outages are often caused by trees. When tree branches or
palm fronds come into contact with power lines, they could cause a brief power interruption.

That is because the circuit will “trip” offline, which is an equipment protection and safety feature.
The circuit will automatically re-energize, but the trip can cause a momentary outage.
Strong wind gusts can also cause “swing shorts,” which can occur when overhead power lines
come too close to each other, and energy can be passed from line to line. This can cause
momentary outages and at times may require an employee or crew to respond.
Strong wind gusts challenged crews attempting to repair lines and replace poles on Hawai‘i
Island, Maui and O‘ahu on Friday. One example was on Mana Road in Waimea where a tree fell
and brought down lines that had been restrung only a short time earlier. In Kohala, repairs took
longer to complete due to additional damage caused by high winds.
High winds, combined with heavy rain earlier this week, may have partially uprooted trees and
cracked tree branches. Although winds may diminish, trees and branches may easily topple or
break and cause new outages.
Customers should always be prepared for the possibility of downed lines or utility poles.
• Always assume a downed power line is energized and dangerous
• Never attempt to move utility lines yourself
• Never drive over downed power lines
• If a power line falls on your car while you are inside, stay in the car and wait for help.
o Call 9-1-1 or Hawaiian Electric’s 24/7 trouble lines
o If you must get out of the car because of a fire or other hazard, jump free of the car
and land with both feet together. Don’t touch the car when your feet are on the
ground, as it could create a path for electricity to run through you. Once you’re clear
of the car, continue keeping both feet on the ground and shuffle until you’re at least
30 feet away.
• If you see someone injured after they touch a downed power line, don’t try to rescue them or
you could get injured, too. Instead, call 9-1-1 and warn others to stay away.
Hawaiian Electric trouble lines are available to customers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
o Oʻahu: 1-855-304-1212
o Hawaiʻi Island: (808) 969-6666
o Maui: (808) 871-7777
o Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi: 1-877-871-8461