update: Hawaiian Electric focused on restoration as new potential storm system forms in the Pacific Affected customers restored: 99% O‘ahu, 98% Maui, 75% Hawai‘i Island

3 p.m. update: Hawaiian Electric focused on restoration as new potential storm system forms in the Pacific

Affected customers restored: 99% O‘ahu, 98% Maui, 75% Hawai‘i Island

• Customers urged to prepare for another storm
• Maps with restoration estimates available
• Oʻahu customers with power still asked to conserve energy today

HONOLULU, Aug. 19, 2026 – Hawaiian Electric remains focused on restoring power across Hawaiʻi Island, Maui and Oʻahu while monitoring a new potential storm system forming in the Pacific. The system is forecast to follow a similar path as Lala and could impact the state as early as this weekend.

More than 500 employees and contractors have been working in the field and behind the scenes and are already positioned across the islands to begin the power restoration process when it is safe to do so. However, a new storm could delay ongoing restoration efforts.

The company urges customers to review their emergency plans, ensure they have supplies on hand and to closely monitor weather updates. Preparation and safety tips are available at hawaiianelectric.com/stormcenter. Detailed tips may also be found in our Handbook for Emergency Preparedness, which can be downloaded for free in English, Cantonese, Ilocano, Korean, and Vietnamese languages, as well as a version for children.

Today, Hawaiian Electric expects to complete repairs on the majority of remaining customers without power on Oʻahu and on Maui. The company released maps with estimated times of restoration for areas on Hawai‘i Island, O‘ahu and Maui that remain without power. As of 2 p.m.:

• Hawaiʻi Island: About 16,800 customers are without power. Most of the outages are in the Puna area, North and South Kona, North and South Kohala, Hamakua, North and South Hilo, and Ka‘ū. Today, crews will continue to make repairs and restore power where possible, prioritizing critical facilities followed by neighborhoods. Power was restored in sections of Puna, North and South Kohala, North and South Hilo, and Hamakua. Independent power producer Puna Geothermal Venture has been reconnected to the grid.
• Maui County: About 2,800 customers are without power, due to a new outage in South Maui that crews are addressing as well as a temporary outage to parts of Hāna as crews perform urgent maintenance at its Hāna substation. Crews are still focused on restoring pockets in Upcountry, Haʻikū, Pe‘ahi and East Maui.
• Oʻahu: Crews restored about 370 customers this morning. About 1,645 customers remain without power in Honolulu, Leeward and Windward areas. O‘ahu had 30 transmission/subtransmission lines affected by the storm and 13 have been restored. Customers from Salt Lake to East Honolulu who have electricity are asked to continue to conserve power today.

Customers who are without power but see their neighbors have electricity restored should call their respective Trouble Line to report the outage:

• Hawaiʻi Island: 1-855-304-9191
• Maui County: 1-855-304-8181
• Oʻahu: 1-855-304-1212

If you are using a portable generator, 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.

Misinformation about filing claims

There is a lot of misinformation circulating about filing a claim after a power outage. Under Tariff Rule No. 16, approved by the State of Hawai‘i Public Utilities Commission, Hawaiian Electric is not liable for losses “caused by accident, storm, fire, strikes, riots, war, public safety power shutoff or any cause not within the company’s control through the exercise of reasonable diligence and care.” The losses that are not covered include, but are not limited to, food spoilage and medication that requires refrigeration, etc. More information about filing damage claims can be found on the company’s website.