Hawaiian Electric ready to respond to impacts from Tropical Storm Lala More than 500 workers ready to restore power

Hawaiian Electric ready to respond to impacts from Tropical Storm Lala

• More than 500 workers ready to restore power
• Company urges customers to be prepared; emergency preparation tips are available at hawaiianelectric.com/stormcenter
• Download the free Handbook for Emergency Preparedness, available in multiple languages, at hawaiianelectric.com/prepare

HONOLULU, Aug. 14, 2026 – Hawaiian Electric has activated its emergency response plan and is ready to respond to potential impacts from Tropical Storm Lala, with more than 500 employees, contractors and support workers positioned across the state available to assist with damage assessment and power restoration efforts following the storm.

While Hawaiian Electric is preparing now, the company emphasized that restoration efforts will begin only when conditions are safe for crews to work. High winds, flooding, lightning, fallen trees and other hazards can make it unsafe to begin restoring power until weather conditions improve.

“Our focus right now is preparation, safety and readiness,” said Shari Ishikawa, Hawaiian Electric incident commander. “Once Tropical Storm Lala has passed and conditions are safe, our crews will begin assessing damage and restoring service as quickly and safely as possible.”

Current preparation efforts include:

• Activating the company’s incident response plan and coordinating with federal, state and county emergency management agencies.
• Conducting additional tree trimming and vegetation management in areas near key transmission lines and other critical infrastructure.
• Positioning crews and ensuring personnel are available across service territories.
• Inspecting and staging equipment, materials and vehicles needed for restoration work.
• Reviewing operational plans and ensuring generating facilities and critical systems are ready to withstand severe weather where possible.

Hawaiian Electric urges its customers to review their emergency plans, ensure they have supplies they need on hand and to closely monitor weather updates.

Preparation and safety tips are available at hawaiianelectric.com/stormcenter. Detailed tips also may be found in the company’s free Handbook for Emergency Preparedness, which can be downloaded from our website at hawaiianelectric.com/prepare. It is available in English, Cantonese, Ilocano, Korean and Vietnamese languages, as well as a version for children.

For your safety

Safety is always Hawaiian Electric’s top priority. The company urges customers to make it their top priority, too, and to take the following safety precautions, as appropriate:

• Check emergency equipment, such as flashlights, emergency generators, battery-operated (hand-crank or solar) radios, light sticks and lanterns to be sure they are operational, and buy extra batteries.
• If someone in your home is dependent on electrically powered, life-sustaining medical equipment, check backup facilities. Plan where to go should the need for evacuation occurs. If you need to go to the hospital or other emergency shelter, remember to take your medical equipment and medications with you to the facility.
• If you plan to use a ladder while preparing your home for the storm, note the location of power lines before you begin. Be sure that ladders or scaffolds are far enough away so that you – and the ends of the tools you’re using – stay at least 10 feet away from power lines. Before lowering a TV antennae or satellite dish, make sure to turn off and unplug the TV.
• If you plan to use a portable generator after the storm, make sure it is placed in a well-ventilated area outside the home, and be sure to carefully follow all instructions in the manufacturer’s manual.