South Kohala, Hawaiʻi – Hawaiian Electric has announced a scheduled overnight power outage that will affect customers in parts of South Kohala. The outage is planned to begin at approximately 9:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 14, 2025, and is expected to conclude around 6:00 a.m. on Friday, August 15, 2025.
This temporary outage is necessary to allow Hawaiian Electric personnel to safely replace poles and equipment, which aims to enhance reliability, resilience, and wildfire safety in the area. The work is being performed overnight to minimize disruptions to customers.
The affected areas include:
- Kawaihae Road from mile marker 62.5 to Kawaihae Harbor
- Kawaihae Harbor
- Akoni Pule Highway from Kawaihae Harbor to mile marker 7
- Koaiʻe, Hawaiian Homes, Kohala Estates, and Kohala Ranch subdivisions
- Kohala Mountain Road from mile markers 10-18, up to and including Puʻuhue Ranch
The Kanehoa and Anekona Estates subdivisions in Waimea are not expected to be affected by this outage.
During the work, there will also be partial lane closures on Kawaihae Road near Spencer Beach Park, Kawaihae Harbor, the Kawaihae Industrial area, and Kohala Estates. Flagmen will be onsite to provide traffic control, and motorists are advised to drive with caution when approaching and passing the work zones.
Customers are advised to take precautions:
- Unplug sensitive electronic equipment prior to the outage.
- Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed to maintain cold temperatures.
- Those who depend on medication or life support equipment should make arrangements for a back-up power supply or transportation to a facility outside the affected area. Information on how to prepare for a power outage is available on Hawaiian Electric’s website: hawaiianelectric.com/prepare.
Additionally, Kohala Ranch Water Company recommends that its residents store enough water for their use for the night and turn off all irrigation systems during the power outage.