West Maui Businesses Face Immediate Revenue Loss and Operational Stoppages Due to Public Safety Power Shutoffs

Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) have been enacted in West Maui, impacting over 10,000 customers as of February 10, 2026. The shutoffs, initiated due to high wind gusts exceeding 80 mph and critically low humidity levels, are a preventative measure to mitigate wildfire risks. This immediate disruption has severe, short-term financial and operational consequences for businesses in the affected zones.

The Change

Hawaiian Electric has initiated a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) for specific areas in West Maui. This decision was triggered by extreme weather conditions: wind gusts exceeding 80 miles per hour combined with a significant drop in humidity. These factors create a heightened risk of wildfires, leading utility providers to preemptively cut power to prevent electrical equipment from igniting dry vegetation. The shutoff directly impacts over 10,000 customers, creating an immediate and widespread operational crisis for businesses relying on electricity.

Who's Affected

This immediate power interruption poses significant challenges across multiple sectors in West Maui:

• Small Business Operators (small-operator): Restaurants, retail stores, service providers, and local franchises are experiencing direct revenue loss due to their inability to operate. Point-of-sale systems are down, refrigeration is compromised, and essential services cannot be rendered. Without immediate backup power solutions, businesses face a complete halt in operations for an indeterminate period.
• Tourism Operators (tourism-operator): Hotels, resorts, vacation rental operators, and tour companies are severely impacted. Guest services, including check-in/check-out, in-room services, and common area amenities, are disrupted. Tour operators must cancel excursions. This can lead to immediate cancellations, significant guest dissatisfaction, and reputational damage, with recovery costs potentially high.
• Healthcare Providers (healthcare): Clinics, private practices, and any healthcare facility operating without robust, tested backup generators are at critical risk. Essential medical equipment may shut down, posing direct threats to patient health. Telehealth services are also unavailable during the outage, isolating patients who rely on remote consultations.
• Entrepreneurs & Startups (entrepreneur): Businesses with limited capital or those in cloud-dependent sectors face immediate operational paralysis. Failure to serve clients or meet deadlines can jeopardize contracts and investor confidence, especially for startups attempting to scale rapidly.
• Agriculture & Food Producers (agriculture): While direct power needs vary, processing, refrigeration, and distribution can be critically impacted. Farmers relying on electric pumps for irrigation or climate control in greenhouses face immediate crop loss. Food producers might lose inventory due to compromised cold storage.
• Real Estate Owners (real-estate): Property managers must deal with tenant communication and potential lease violations if businesses cannot operate. Owners of commercial properties may face pressure from tenants regarding rent abatements or service availability. Long-term resilience planning for critical infrastructure becomes paramount.

Second-Order Effects

The immediate power shutoff in West Maui triggers a cascade of negative economic consequences characteristic of Hawaii's isolated island economy:

• Revenue Loss → Reduced Local Spending → Strained Supply Chains: Immediate revenue loss for affected businesses directly reduces their purchasing power. This diminished demand can strain local suppliers, who in turn may reduce orders, creating a ripple effect impacting businesses across the supply chain, particularly those relying on patronage from the hard-hit West Maui commercial sector.
• Tourism Disruption → Reputational Damage → Lower Future Bookings: The immediate negative guest experience from power outages can lead to scathing online reviews and word-of-mouth complaints. This reputational damage can deter future bookings, impacting the longer-term viability of the tourism sector, which is foundational to Hawaii's economy.
• Operational Paralysis → Staffing Issues → Reduced Service Availability: With operations halted, businesses may be forced to send staff home without pay, leading to financial hardship for employees. If the outage is prolonged, staff may seek employment elsewhere, exacerbating existing labor shortages in the islands.

What to Do

Immediate action is critical to mitigate losses and ensure business continuity.

For Small Business Operators:

• Activate Emergency Power: If you have backup generators, ensure they are fueled and operational. Test them immediately. If not, shift to battery-powered operations for essential functions or prepare for complete shutdown.
• Communicate Proactively: Notify customers and clients via social media, text alerts, or pre-arranged phone trees about operational status and expected return times. Manage expectations to minimize dissatisfaction.
• Inventory Management: Secure perishable inventory. Move items to available cold storage if possible, or prepare for controlled disposal and insurance claims.
• Staffing Contingencies: Implement your pre-defined plan for staff during outages. This may involve sending staff home with pay (if feasible and covered by continuity plans), or assigning them to tasks that don't require power (e.g., inventory checks, deep cleaning, customer outreach).

For Tourism Operators:

• Guest Communication: Immediately inform guests of the situation, potential impacts on services (e.g., air conditioning, Wi-Fi, dining), and any planned excursions. Offer apologies and explore compensation options (e.g., future discounts, rebooking flexibility).
• Activate Backup Systems: Ensure all backup power systems for critical hotel operations (emergency lighting, essential services, limited critical areas) are fully functional.
• Liaise with Utility Providers: Stay updated on the projected duration of the PSPS from Hawaiian Electric and communicate this information transparently to guests and staff.
• Review Cancellation Policies: Be prepared to adjust cancellation policies for incoming guests or those on upcoming tours who may be affected.

For Healthcare Providers:

• Deploy Backup Power: Immediately switch to emergency generators for all critical medical equipment and life support systems. Verify fuel levels.
• Patient Safety Protocols: Implement emergency protocols for patient care during power outages. This includes manually monitoring vital signs and ensuring continuity of care.
• Communication with Patients: Notify patients of any appointment cancellations or service disruptions. Utilize alternative, non-electric communication methods if necessary.
• Status Updates: Maintain constant communication with Hawaiian Electric for the most accurate restoration timelines, and adjust staffing and resource allocation accordingly.

For Entrepreneurs & Startups:

• Shift to Offline Operations: If possible, transition to tasks that do not require internet or electricity. This could include strategic planning, manual data entry, or offline product development.
• Leverage Mobile Hotspots: If cellular service is available, utilize mobile hotspots for essential communication and data access, prioritizing critical business functions.
• Communicate with Stakeholders: Inform investors, clients, and team members about the situation and any potential impacts on project timelines or deliverables.

For Agriculture & Food Producers:

• Secure Perishables: Move high-value perishables to any available backup refrigeration or alternative cold storage solutions promptly.
• Monitor Irrigation/Climate Control: If electric pumps or climate control systems are essential, assess their status. If backup power is available, engage it. Otherwise, prepare for potential crop damage and adjust harvesting plans if feasible.
• Document Losses: Begin documenting any inventory or crop losses for potential insurance claims or disaster relief applications.

For Real Estate Owners:

• Tenant Communication: Reach out to all commercial tenants to inform them of the PSPS, offer support where possible, and gather information on their operational status.
• Assess Building Systems: Check any essential building systems that rely on electricity, such as common area lighting or security systems, and ensure backup power is functioning if applicable.
• Prepare for Lease Inquiries: Be ready to address tenant inquiries regarding rent abatements or contract clauses related to force majeure events, depending on the duration of the outage.