Thousands still without power in Hawaii after Lala
Hawaii is still largely in the dark days after the storm passed, with more than 100,000 homes and businesses cut off from power, internet, and phone service — bad news for residents and shut-down workplaces.
- Over 100,000 customers across the islands still have no power, with the worst hit on Oahu, the Big Island, and Maui.
- Fallen trees and branches knocked down by strong winds and flooding are the main cause of the outages.
- Cell, internet, and cable service are down too, since damaged towers and antennas depend on that same power.
- Crews are fixing the big transmission lines first, using drones and helicopters to reach hard spots, and 100 utility workers are flying in from the mainland for the first time.
- Some neighborhoods have been without electricity since Saturday, forcing businesses to close because staff cannot work.
Outlook: Whole neighborhoods will likely stay dark another night, with the hardest-to-reach areas last to come back.