Hawaiian Electric to Conduct Islandwide Transmission Line Helicopter Inspections March 10–13

Hawaiian Electric will conduct quarterly aerial inspections of its major overhead transmission lines across Hawaii Island from Tuesday, March 10, through Friday, March 13, 2026, with flights scheduled each day from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The company and local outlets say the inspections are islandwide and will use a Manuiwa Airways helicopter; exact times and routes are subject to weather.

“Hawaiian Electric will conduct quarterly aerial inspections of its major overhead transmission lines from March 10-13 in continued efforts to improve system reliability,” the company notice reads, framing the March operation as routine monitoring to reduce outages and identify infrastructure issues along transmission corridors serving Big Island communities.

“The islandwide inspections will be conducted from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day in a Manuiwa Airways helicopter,” the advisory states. “Exact times and routes will depend on weather conditions. The aircraft might be required to fly low and slow in some areas, which could cause temporary noise disturbances.” Residents in Hilo, Waimea, Kona and other communities should expect intermittent helicopter overflights during those daytime hours.

Hawaiian Electric posted the notice on Nextdoor through its Social Media Team and local outlets including Howzit Kohala published a HILO dateline on March 3, 2026. The company repeated the standard community message: “Hawaiian Electric thanks the community for their patience and understanding. If there are any questions or concerns, please call 1-855-304-9191 (toll free).” The same toll-free number appears on Bigislandnow and the social post for residents seeking more information.

This is consistent with the utility’s prior aerial inspection practice: a Hawaiian Electric release from Aug. 24, 2023 detailed helicopter surveys in West Maui, South Maui and Upcountry on Aug. 24–25, 2023, with different daypart hours. That 2023 release likewise noted low-and-slow flight patterns can cause temporary noise. Hawaiian Electric serves roughly 95 percent of Hawaii’s 1.4 million residents across Oahu, Maui, Hawaii, Lanai and Molokai, and the company describes aerial inspections as part of routine efforts to monitor transmission infrastructure.

One earlier fragment of a notice included the phrase routine system-reliability and wildfire-safety work, but the March 2026 advisories circulating locally emphasize system reliability and the Manuiwa Airways operator. The company has not published detailed flight routes or a day-by-day map for March 10–13; with weather determining final routes, residents with concerns are asked to call 1-855-304-9191 during inspection hours. Hawaiian Electric’s posted notices close by thanking the community, signaling the inspections are part of the utility’s regular quarterly program to keep the island’s transmission lines under active surveillance.