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HECO power outage map
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Hawaiian Electric reported over 88,000 customers lost power Saturday as Hurricane Lala hit. The storm may leave some outages lasting days, straining recovery.
Background
Hurricane Lala, a rapidly strengthening tropical storm, has caused widespread power outages across Hawaii, particularly on the Big Island. Hawaiian Electric, the state's largest utility, warned customers to prepare for extended outages as hurricane-force winds damaged transmission infrastructure. The storm is expected to continue moving westward, affecting other islands.
How it unfolded
- Aug 14, 2026Hawaiian Electric warned customers to prepare for power outages that could last for days as Hurricane Lala approaches.
- Aug 15, 2026 20:00Hawaiian Electric reported over 88,000 customers without power, with about 63,270 on the Big Island, including all east and south sides plus Waimea and Honokaʻa.
- Aug 16, 2026Hurricane Lala continues tracking westward, bringing heavy rain and tropical-storm-force winds to Maui County, Oahu, and Kauai, with hazardous road conditions prompting crews to stay off roads.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- Hawaiian Electric warned customers to prepare for extended outages lasting overnight and potentially longer, especially where major transmission infrastructure was damaged.
- Official
- Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency asked crews to stay off roads due to flooding and downed trees, prioritizing safety.