Hawaii

Senators call for HECO investigation following weekend outages

Published

2 weeks ago

April 19, 2024

Senators call for HECO investigation following weekend outages

Power outages that left thousands of Oahu and Hawaii Island residents in the dark last weekend have prompted state Senate leaders to urge the Public Utilities Commission to investigate Hawaiian Electric’s ongoing reliability issues.

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In a letter to the PUC, Sens. Glenn Wakai, chair of the Senate Committee on Public Safety and Intergovernmental an Military Affairs; Jarrett Keohokalole, chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection; and Lynn DeCoite, chair of the Senate Committee on Energy, Economic Development and Tourism, called on the commission to exercise its investigative powers to protect the public interest

An outage on Oahu knocked out power to 13,000 HECO customers, prompted the closure of four East Oahu schools and triggered the release of 237,500 gallons of sewage into the ocean when the East Honolulu Treatment Plant lost electricity

HECO asked residential and business customers on Hawaii Island to reduce their electricity use to prevent further rolling outages after more than 21,000 customers experienced a 30-minute outage on Sunday

The senators asked the PUC to investigate the matter to better understand “the nature, duration and resolution of these outages”

In a letter to the PUC, Sens. Glenn Wakai, chair of the Senate Committee on Public Safety and Intergovernmental an Military Affairs; Jarrett Keohokalole, chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection; and Lynn DeCoite, chair of the Senate Committee on Energy, Economic Development and Tourism, called on the commission to exercise its investigative powers to protect the public interest.

“The PUC has the statutory responsibility to regulate Hawaiian Electric proactively in the public interest and can use its investigatory powers pursuant to Section 269-7, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to ensure that electric utility services are delivered in a safe and reliable manner,” the senators wrote. “The lack of reliability due to insufficient energy generation, HECO’s aging equipment, unreliable oil-fired power generation, and immediate and long-term solutions should be investigated.”

In the letter, dated April 16, the senators noted that one outage on Oahu knocked out power to 13,000 HECO customers, prompted the closure of four East Oahu school and triggered the release of 237,500 gallons of sewage into the ocean when the East Honolulu Treatment Plant lost electricity. They also noted the loss of power to 21,500 customers on Hawaii Island.

On April 14, HECO reported that heavy rains and severe weather damaged one of the main transmission lines that bring power across the Koolau mountain range into East Honolulu. According to the utility, about 4,000 feet of 46-kilovolt line fell across a second transmission line, taking both lines out of service. Repair efforts were hampered by steep terrain and the inability to use a helicopter due to continued bad weather.

The same evening, HECO asked residential and business customers on Hawaii Island to reduce their electricity use to prevent further rolling outages after more than 21,000 customers experienced a 30-minute outage.

HECO explained that the request was prompted by the unavailability of several large generators. HECO’s Hill 5 steam unit tripped offline the previous day. Its Puna steam unit and CT01 combustion turbine unit are under repair and its Keahole CT-5 unit is offline for annual overhaul until the end of the month.

According to HECO, these units generate about 62 megawatts combined. In addition, independent power producer Hamakua Energy, the island’s largest generator, was offline and wind and solar resources were forecast to be lower than normal, HECO reported.“These unplanned rolling outages and calls for conservation showcase Hawaiian Electric’s struggle to provide safe and reliable energy to customers,” they wrote. “Even worse, HECO expects more blackouts in the months ahead, without any indication of when these energy reliability issues will be resolved.”

The senators asked the PUC to investigate the matter to better understand “the nature, duration and resolution of these outages.”

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Hawaii

Maui County files complaint against cell carriers in connection with Aug. 8 wildfire disaster

Published

19 mins ago

May 2, 2024

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Maui County files complaint against cell carriers in connection with Aug. 8 wildfire disaster

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Maui County says cell carriers violated federal rules to timely report service outages during the August wildfire disaster.

The county filed a complaint in court Wednesday against Verizon, T-Mobile, Spectrum Mobile, and AT&T.

Leaders say during the emergency they sent at least 14 text messages to the public about evacuations.

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But they later found out cell towers across the island, including all 21 towers servicing Lahaina weren’t working and most people never received the texts.

The county claims the carriers’ communication failure impacted the emergency response.

We’ve asked each carrier for a response. Spectrum has declined to comment.

The rest, we are awaiting an reply.

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Hawaii

Low world-wide participation drives HIBT cancellation – West Hawaii Today

Published

8 hours ago

May 2, 2024

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Low world-wide participation drives HIBT cancellation – West Hawaii Today

The organizing committee of the Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament (HIBT) regretfully announced the cancellation of the 2024 tournament scheduled for July 27 through August 3, 2024. Despite extensive efforts to attract participants from around the globe, including robust outreach campaigns and promotional initiatives, the desired level of interest necessary to uphold the tournament’s standards has not been achieved. The 2024 billfish tournament would have been the 62nd annual.

“The decision to cancel the 2024 tournament was made after careful consideration of various factors impacting the event’s viability. It breaks my heart to cancel the tournament. While this decision comes with extreme disappointment, it underscores our commitment to upholding the tournament’s esteemed legacy and ensuring a quality experience for all participants,” HIBT Director Roberta Fithian said.

In 1959, just two days after the territory of Hawaii became the 50th state, the Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament launched its first sports fishing tournament in Kona. A Hawaii team won that first year with competition from teams from Australia and New Zealand. A tradition of international fishing teams coming to Kona began. In 1960, a female angler caught a world record Pacific blue marlin in a preliminary event proving that women could fish. Women were invited to participate in the third year of the tournament.

Before sustainability became a buzz word and over 40 years ago, HIBT introduced it tag and release initiative giving valuable team points for marlin under 300 pounds released back into the ocean.

Teams from Australia, China, Japan, New Zealand, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, South Africa, Vanuatu, Fiji, Palau, Taiwan, Russia, Korea, France and French Territories, Marshall Islands, Tahiti, British Isles, the Bahamas, American Samoa, the Gilbert and Ellis Islands, Philippines, Guam, Hong Kong and Bermuda and the US have competed over the years.

The HIBT organizing committee plans to attempt to bring the event back in 2025.

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Hawaii

‘Still a threat’; Victim decries decision to release one of Hawaii’s most notorious serial rapists

Published

15 hours ago

May 1, 2024

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‘Still a threat’; Victim decries decision to release one of Hawaii’s most notorious serial rapists

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – One of Hawaii’s most notorious serial rapists is set to be released Thursday, prompting concern about whether the so-called “Manoa rapist” is still a danger to the community.

John Freudenberg was flown back to Oahu on a charter flight last week from Hilo’s minimum security prison.

The transport was in preparation for his release on Thursday.

Sheriff’s deputies, corrections officers waiting for “Manoa rapist” to arrive in Honolulu(Kawano, Lynn | None)

One of his victims told HNN Investigates that she believes he should remain behind bars.

“John Freudenberg is still a threat to public safety,” said the woman, who asked that her name not be released. The woman is credited with helping to catch Freudenberg after she picked him out of a line-up.

“He broke into my house and held me hostage in my home and held a knife to my throat, raping me and telling me he was going to kill me,” the woman said. She added that before he left, he said something to her that made her realize he had no self control. “He said, ‘I’m sorry, this had to happen to you,’” she said.

Technical problems with the state's online victim's notification network allowed a... — Technical problems with the state’s online victim’s notification network allowed a high-profile sex offender — the so-called Manoa rapist — to disappear from the system.(none)

Freudenberg served more than 40 years behind bars for a series of attacks against 15 women in Manoa in the 1980s. He was 23 when he pleaded guilty to crimes, including rape, sodomy, sex abuse and burglary.

The woman who spoke to HNN said Freudenberg cannot be trusted and pointed to his own words at a parole hearing, in which he could not guarantee that he wouldn’t reoffend.

Freudenberg’s attorney, Myles Breiner, said he understands why victims feel that way, but said his client has served his time and deserves a chance to live outside prison walls.

Breiner pointed out that Freudenberg completed multiple sex offender treatment programs.

Breiner added his client recognizes the terrible things he has done, but has taken all steps necessary to be reformed. “He has spent 40 years in prison without a misconduct, which is extraordinary,” Breiner said.

The attorney said Freudenberg did not have one infraction while behind bars.

Freudenberg was a University of Hawaii Manoa honors student and president of his fraternity when he committed the crimes over a 14-month period.

He was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole, and was denied parole repeatedly until last year. After his release, Freudenberg will live in a halfway house with an ankle monitor.

'Manoa Rapist' denied parole 32 years after conviction — ‘Manoa Rapist’ denied parole 32 years after conviction

The Hawaii Paroling Authority said Freudenberg “will be closely supervised by the HPA’s Sex Offender Supervision Unit. He will be under the highest level of supervision that includes a strict curfew, electronic monitoring, reporting in-person to his parole officer at least once a week and other stringent rules he must adhere to.” Breiner also said Freudenberg will have to go out and find a job.

Freudenberg became an electrician while in prison.

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