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Lanai, hundreds on Oahu remain without electricity

Crews on Lanai resumed work this morning to replace 19 utility poles damaged by high winds, knocking out power to all 1,700 residents over the weekend.

Hawaiian Electric Co. Spokesman Peter Rosegg said they aim to restore power to Lanai City by tonight and Manele to follow.

An additional crew from Maui Electric flew to Lanai by helicopter this morning to assist with repairs.

Each of the damaged poles is approximately 45-to-50 feet tall. Rosegg said repairs involve replacing all poles, resetting new poles and restringing about a mile of lines along Kaumalapau Highway to Miki Basin and crossing to Manele Bay.

“Currently, crews are working on the last of the 10 poles on the Lanai City circuit before they start to restring the lines. They will then work toward Manele to repair the remaining nine poles,” Rosegg said in a news release.

Strong winds also knocked out power to approximately 100,000 residents over a 24-hour period during the weekend. More than 100 separate outages occurred during that time.

Rosegg said, “We’re pretty much clear on Oahu. Those have all been restored.”

From 7 a.m. Saturday to 10 p.m. Sunday, the Honolulu Fire Department responded to reports of 95 blown roofs, 41 downed trees, 12 power line problems and seven arcing wires.

Honolulu Fire Spokesman Capt. Kevin Mokulehua said fire crews also responded to an overhanging plate-glass window on a balcony at Diamond Head Apartments in Waikiki, some solar panel problems on Emmeline Place in Kalihi and a 10×20 tent that blew atop a roof at a Hoohaku Street home in Pearl City.

No injuries were reported.

4 responses to “Lanai, hundreds on Oahu remain without electricity”

  1. lokela says:

    Can’t believe the number of outages. After all the close brushes with the hurricanes this past year. We had some strong winds then. Must have weakened the electrical system for this wind storm.

  2. dr4g3n says:

    Hopefully, the power is back up soon and a shipment of food supplies is sent there? Only spoiled food and limited retail store supplies left.

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