Hawaiian Electric warns of possible power shutoff in Waikoloa, Kawaihae

Power could go out first in Kawaihae and Waikoloa if dry, windy weather worsened across West Hawaii, where Hawaiian Electric warned it might cut electricity before a wildfire starts rather than after one spreads.

The utility said a Wind Advisory was in effect for Hawaii Island through Friday morning, with sustained winds of at least 30 mph or gusts of 50 mph expected. If the weather intensified over the next 24 to 48 hours, Hawaiian Electric said it could proactively shut off power in high-risk communities through a Public Safety Power Shutoff.

That warning carried real consequences far beyond a dark house. A shutoff can stop refrigerators, knock out internet and phone charging, interrupt medical devices, and force businesses in Waikoloa and Kawaihae to change hours or close early. Hawaiian Electric told customers to make their own emergency plans and prepare for the possibility of extended outages.

The areas most likely to be affected on Hawaii Island stretch well beyond a single neighborhood. Hawaiian Electric has identified initial PSPS zones in North Hawaii between the Kohala area, below mile marker 18, and Waikoloa, as well as parts of West Hawaii between Kalaoa and Hōlualoa and between Mauna Kea Access Road and Waiki‘i Ranch. The company estimated those Hawaii Island areas cover about 19,300 customers.

The utility said PSPS decisions are based on fire history, wind data, vegetation, evacuation routes and the location of its infrastructure. A National Weather Service Red Flag Warning does not automatically trigger a shutoff. Instead, Hawaiian Electric said it looks for persistent drought, wind gusts of 45 mph or higher, and relative humidity below 45 percent, along with field observations.

Hawaiian Electric said it would continue updating customers through news media, its website, X, Facebook and its mobile app. The company’s PSPS program began on July 1, 2024 as part of its wildfire safety strategy, which it describes as its last line of defense to keep communities safe.

The approach reflects how sharply wildfire planning on Hawaii Island has changed since the August 2023 Maui windstorm and wildfires. After that disaster, Hawaiian Electric developed interim wildfire safety measures that included wildfire risk modeling, 360-degree AI-enabled cameras, a 24/7 wildfire watch office, added weather stations, human spotters during red-flag conditions, fast-trip settings, reclose blocking and fault-current indicators.

The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission approved Hawaiian Electric’s 2025-2027 Wildfire Mitigation Plan on Dec. 31, 2025, and said the company must strengthen transparency, accountability and other parts of its wildfire strategy. For residents and businesses in Kawaihae and Waikoloa, the message was plain: the tradeoff is a planned outage now, or a much larger fire emergency later.