(ABOVE VIDEO) A huge, fallen ironwood tree sits beside the highway in Waimea as crews repair damaged utility infrastructure.

NEWS BRIEFS

• At 10 a.m. the Hawaiian Electric Light Company reported about 900 customers were without power. Repairs have been completed in Aloha Estates… Hawaiian Paradise Park… Hawaiian Ocean View Estates… Hawi… Kamuela… the Kona areas of Kaloko, Captain Cook, Keauhou, Hōlualoa… Kurtistown… Leilani Estates… Lorenzo Road in Ka‘u… Mountain View… Royal Hawaiian Subdivision… and Wai‘ōhinu.
• Water systems in the Kohala and Waimea areas have been restored. However, a water restriction remains in effect for Paauilo. A water spigot has been set up at the bottom of Pohakea Road for those customers needing additional water.
• All major roads and highways are open. However, Alii Drive in Kailua-Kona between Hualalai Road and Walua Road is limited to one lane only (north bound traffic). High surf damaged the roadway along the coastline area. South bound traffic is being detoured in the immediate area.

MEDIA

This evening’s civil defense update:

PRIMARY SOURCES

The recent high wind event resulted in numerous fallen trees, downed power lines and power outages. HELCO crews are working to restore power in the affected areas that extend from Ocean View through North Kohala. All downed power lines are to be treated as energized and avoided. Please report all power outages and downed power lines to HELCO at 969-6666.

These power outages may affect water systems in some areas.

At this time water systems in the Kohala and Waimea areas have been restored.

A water restriction remains in effect for the area of Paauilo. A water spigot has been set up at the bottom of Pohakea Road for those customers needing additional water. For questions regarding water service please call the Department of Water Supply at 961-8790.

Currently, all major roads and highways are open.

Alii Drive in the Kailua Kona area between Hualalai Road and Walua Road is limited to one lane only and restricted to north bound traffic only. This is due to surf and erosion damage to the roadway along the coastline area. South bound traffic is being detoured in the immediate area.

Additional updates will be posted as information becomes available. Hawaii County Civil Defense on Jan. 5 at 5:30 p.m. HST

Hawai‘i Electric Light crews continue to make progress on restoring electric service to customers affected by recent severe weather conditions. On Sunday and early Monday morning, repairs were completed in Aloha Estates (Mountain View), Hawaiian Paradise Park, Hawaiian Ocean View Estates, Hawi, Kamuela, Kona (Kaloko, Captain Cook, Keauhou, Hōlualoa), Kurtistown area, Leilani Estates, Lorenzo Road (Ka‘u), Mountain View area, Royal Hawaiian Subdivision, and Wai‘ōhinu. Crews will be working in Āhualoa, Ainaloa, Fern Acres, Hawaiian Acres, Honoka‘a, Kalōpā Mauka, Kapoho, Ka‘u, Nānāwale, North Kohala, Orchidland, Paauilo, and Volcano on Monday. About 900 customers are currently without power.

Hawai‘i Electric Light will continue its round-the-clock repair operations until all customers are restored. At this time, it is estimated that customers in the hardest hit areas will have service restored by midnight Tuesday.

The community is encouraged to be safe and treat downed power lines as energized and dangerous. Do not handle or move any fallen or damaged utility equipment. If someone is injured by a downed power line, do not approach them. Call 9-1-1 for assistance.

Hawai‘i Electric Light asks customers who have not yet reported their power outage to call its trouble line at 969-6666. Due to the high call volume, customers may experience a longer wait time before speaking with a representative. The company sincerely apologizes for this inconvenience and thanks customers for their patience and understanding. Hawai‘i Electric Light Company on Jan. 5 at 10 a.m. HST