

On a recent Saturday morning, Nānākuli experienced an unexpected power outage impacting approximately 1,349 residents and bringing traffic to a halt at a crucial intersection on Farrington Highway. Starting around 10:17 a.m., the blackout left the crossroads of Farrington Highway and Nānākuli Avenue without essential traffic lights, forcing business operations to either rely on backup power or cease entirely. The power was anticipated to be restored by noon, as Hawaiian Electric teams were on-site to resolve the situation, although the exact cause of the outage remained unclear at the time. This outage is part of a broader issue, as Hawaiian Electric continues a major project to replace outdated cables along the Mikilua 3 circuit, which services around 1,500 customers. This project aims to enhance reliability but has coincided with a series of outages prompted by both storm activity and equipment failures over recent months. The temporary non-functioning traffic signals forced drivers to treat the affected junction as a four-way stop, with authorities emphasizing safety and caution. Hawaiian Electric advised the public to maintain a safe distance from downed power lines and to report any issues to their emergency line. Crews were committed to working until the power was fully restored and the cause identified, while drivers in the area were urged to anticipate delays due to ongoing traffic management efforts and repair work.