Hawaiian Electric Cuts Power to 4,100 North Shore Oahu Customers Amid Kona Storm

Hawaiian Electric proactively cut power to approximately 4,100 customers on the North Shore of Oahu on March 20, 2026, citing safety concerns as life-threatening flash floods inundated communities following extreme rainfall from a slow-moving Kona low.

“HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - For safety reasons, Hawaiian Electric has turned off power to about 4,100 customers on the North Shore of Oahu”

Hawaii News Now

The utility company's decision to de-energize areas came after fire officials requested power shutdowns in the Waialua region early Friday morning, with additional areas being de-energized shortly before 9 a.m., bringing the total affected customers to 4,100.

Hawaii News Now

This emergency measure was implemented as saturated ground conditions and moderate winds created dangerous conditions where partially uprooted trees could fall on power lines or topple poles, posing significant safety risks to both customers and utility workers.

The power cuts represent a significant emergency response to the catastrophic flooding that has overwhelmed drainage systems and cut off road access throughout the North Shore communities.

The extreme weather event that necessitated the power outages was characterized by unprecedented rainfall totals, with the slow-moving Kona low producing over 330 mm (13 inches) of precipitation in just 12 hours starting at 17:30 HST on March 19.

Rainfall rates reached 25-50 mm (1-2 inches) per hour, with approximately 127-254 mm (5-10 inches) falling within the first six hours alone, rapidly overwhelming drainage infrastructure and creating flash flood conditions.

The Watchers

This deluge followed another significant Kona low event that had dumped nearly 1,000 mm (39 inches) of rain over the Island of Hawaii between March 10 and 16, with multiple islands recording over 500 mm (20 inches) of rainfall during that period.

The cumulative effect of these consecutive weather systems has saturated the ground to the point where additional rainfall creates immediate runoff and flooding, rather than absorption, exacerbating the ongoing emergency response efforts across the Hawaiian Islands.

The flash flooding has caused widespread infrastructure damage and created dangerous conditions throughout the affected communities, with floodwaters cutting off road access and isolating multiple areas along the North Shore.

“HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - For safety reasons, Hawaiian Electric has turned off power to about 4,100 customers on the North Shore of Oahu”

Hawaii News Now

Authorities issued evacuation orders for Waialua and Haleiwa as conditions deteriorated, prompting the opening of emergency shelters in elevated areas to accommodate displaced residents.

Multiple homes have been damaged or destroyed in the inundated communities, though the total number of affected structures remains unclear as emergency response operations continue under hazardous conditions.

The National Weather Service reported that emergency managers were dealing with drainage issues, standing water on roadways, and high streams across Oʻahu overnight, warning that conditions could change quickly and unpredictably in the dark.

Access to Hana has been particularly challenging, with crews requiring helicopter and heavy equipment to address outages due to downed trees and blocked roads, highlighting the severity of the infrastructure damage caused by the extreme weather event.

Hawaiian Electric and emergency response crews are working to restore power across the affected islands, though the scale of the damage and ongoing safety concerns have complicated recovery efforts.

On Hawaii Island, power was restored to about 560 customers in Hawaiian Acres, Mountain View, Nanawale, and Volcano from last week's outages, though approximately 100 customers remain without power as of Friday morning.

The Watchers

Crews are actively working to restore power in Wood Valley, Kapoho, and various pockets around the island, with the process being hampered by difficult access conditions caused by the storm.

In Maui County, service was restored overnight to about 64 customers, leaving approximately 180 customers without power, primarily in Kula, Haleakalā Crater, and Hana.

The utility company has established trouble lines for each island to assist customers with power outage reports and safety concerns, with customers urged to report low-hanging or downed power lines to prevent injuries and ensure rapid response times.

The ongoing emergency situation has prompted authorities to maintain critical warnings and safety advisories as the second storm system moves across the state, potentially exacerbating the already dire conditions.

“HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - For safety reasons, Hawaiian Electric has turned off power to about 4,100 customers on the North Shore of Oahu”

Hawaii News Now

A Flash Flood Warning remained in effect until 08:00 HST on March 20 for the Island of Oʻahu, though the National Weather Service indicated that conditions could change quickly and unpredictably.

Hawaii News Now

Emergency managers are particularly concerned about the saturated ground conditions, which increase the risk of landslides and additional infrastructure failures as moderate winds continue to affect the region.

Customers across Oahu, Hawaii Island, and Maui County have been advised to prepare for the possibility of new outages as the weather pattern continues to develop.

The Hawaiian Electric Company has emphasized the importance of public safety during this crisis, warning that downed power lines may be energized and dangerous, and urging residents to stay at least 30 feet or more away from any downed power lines they encounter.