Hawaii Storm Leaves 139,000 Without Power as Kona Low Triggers Flood Warnings Across Islands

A dangerous Kona low storm pushed Hawaii into a difficult Friday, leaving more than 139,000 Hawaiian Electric customers without power as heavy rain, flash flooding and strong winds spread disruption across Oahu, Maui County and other parts of the state. The weather emergency quickly became one of the biggest stories of the day as neighborhoods lost electricity, roads flooded, and emergency officials warned that outages and dangerous travel conditions could continue well beyond the evening.

The scale of the disruption expanded through the day. Hawaiian Electric reported that 139,924 customers were without power as of 9 p.m., after earlier updates had already shown more than 121,000 customers affected statewide. Utility crews did restore a major transmission line and brought electricity back to about 29,000 customers on Oahu by around 8:30 p.m., but the overall number of affected households remained extremely high as the storm continued to batter the islands.

Outages spread across key Oahu communities

Oahu took the hardest hit, with outages reported across a wide range of residential and urban communities. Areas mentioned in utility updates included Kaneohe, Kailua, Waikiki, Mililani, Wahiawa, Haleiwa, Waipahu and Makakilo. Earlier outage totals also pointed to problems in Ala Moana, Diamond Head, Kaimuki, Kakaako, Kapahulu, Makiki, Manoa, McCully, Moiliili, Palolo and St. Louis Heights.

By midafternoon, officials were already warning residents in Hawaii Kai and parts of East Honolulu to prepare for outages that could last overnight or longer. That concern was tied to damage on key transmission infrastructure serving East Oahu, where utility officials said two of the three transmission lines along the base of the Koʻolau range near Waimanalo had been damaged. With only one line left serving the area, further damage could have made restoration even more difficult.

Storm damage added pressure to restoration work

The power crisis was not caused by routine localized faults alone. Hawaiian Electric said a lightning strike destroyed a pole along an Oahu transmission line early Friday, adding to the strain on an already fragile grid during a fast-moving weather emergency. Officials urged the public to stay far away from downed lines, debris and standing water because damaged electrical lines may still be energized and dangerous.

In Maui County, crews were also working to restore service in parts of Maui, Lanaʻi and Molokaʻi. The outages came at the same time as the broader storm system moved from west to east across the island chain, making restoration more complicated and extending the number of communities under weather-related alerts.

Flooding and evacuations deepened the emergency

Power failures were only one part of the situation. Flood warnings and flood advisories were issued or extended for multiple islands as the Kona low delivered intense rainfall. On Oahu, rainfall rates of 1 to 3 inches per hour were reported at points during the day, while several locations recorded striking 24-hour totals. Mount Kaala received 11.4 inches, Maunawili 9.78 inches, and Olomana Fire Station 7.15 inches, with other areas also posting substantial totals.

Those rain bands created rapid flooding concerns in low-lying and stream-adjacent areas. Authorities ordered an immediate evacuation of Otake Camp in Waialua as water levels rose and flooding conditions threatened to worsen. A shelter was opened at Waialua High and Intermediate School, and emergency officials urged residents to leave with medications, documents, clothing and essential supplies.

Strong winds amplified the statewide threat

The same storm system also brought damaging wind potential. Forecasters warned of gusts reaching up to 70 mph in some areas, with high wind warnings in effect for several islands. That combination of saturated ground, flooding rain and severe wind increased the risk of downed trees, blocked roads and further damage to utility infrastructure. Officials repeatedly stressed that conditions could change quickly and that residents should avoid unnecessary travel.

The impact extended beyond homes. Public schools, state and county government offices, and University of Hawaii campuses were shut as a precaution while the strongest impacts moved through. Transit and public services also faced interruptions, and the broader mood across the islands shifted from precaution to active storm response as the day unfolded.

Extended outages remained a major concern

By Friday night, the central concern for many families remained simple: when the lights would come back on. Hawaiian Electric made clear that residents should prepare for extended outages, particularly where repairs depend on improved weather or access to difficult terrain. In East Oahu, that warning carried special weight because of the damage to multiple transmission lines feeding the area.

With the Kona low still influencing conditions across the state, Hawaii entered the weekend facing a layered emergency: widespread outages, flooded roads, evacuation orders in vulnerable locations, and continued risks from rain and wind. For many residents, Friday’s storm was not just a weather event but a major disruption to daily life that exposed how quickly power, transport and safety conditions can change when severe island weather intensifies.