Hawaii is getting $18.5 million from the federal government to toughen its power grid against extreme weather — good news for residents on islands where storms and fires have knocked out electricity.

• The money will fund three projects to upgrade power infrastructure on Oahu, Maui and the Big Island.
• Two hubs will be built to keep key facilities running when the grid goes down.
• The focus is protecting electrical systems from extreme weather, a growing risk across the islands.
• Maui's inclusion is notable given the deadly fires that exposed how fragile the local grid is.

Outlook: Work on the three projects and the two backup hubs should move ahead next, with real protection arriving only once construction is done.