West Maui Businesses Resume Operations as Full Power Restoration Confirmed

Executive Brief

Hawaiian Electric has re-energized all west Maui circuits following a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS), enabling businesses to resume normal operations and customer service. Small operators and tourism businesses must now confirm stable power to manage inventory and scheduled services. Act now to verify operational readiness and manage customer communications.

• Small Business Operators (restaurants, retail, services): Immediate need to confirm power stability for operations, manage perishable inventory, and communicate service resumption to customers.
• Tourism Operators (hotels, tours): Critical to confirm power to maintain guest services, manage bookings, and re-establish operational capacity.
• Real Estate Owners: Property managers should confirm with tenants that power is stable and assist with any immediate operational needs.

Action Window: Immediate. Verifying power stability is crucial to avoid significant revenue loss and customer dissatisfaction.

The Change

Hawaiian Electric announced on February 11, 2026, that all circuits in west Maui impacted by a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) have been successfully re-energized. This means that all customers whose infrastructure can safely receive electricity should now have power restored. The PSPS was implemented as a precautionary measure to prevent potential wildfire ignition due to high winds and dry conditions.

This restoration signifies the immediate availability of electrical service for businesses and residents in the affected regions, allowing for the recommencement of activities that rely on a stable power supply.

Who's Affected

Small Business Operators (Restaurants, Retail Shops, Service Providers)

For West Maui's small businesses, the restoration of power is a critical step toward resuming normal operations.

• Operational Resumption: Businesses dependent on refrigeration, lighting, point-of-sale systems, and other electrical equipment can now reopen or expand operating hours. This impacts restaurants needing to prepare food, retail stores requiring lighting and POS systems, and service providers like salons and repair shops.
• Inventory Management: Particularly for restaurants and food retailers, the power outage posed a significant risk to perishable inventory. With power restored, businesses need to quickly assess and manage any inventory that may have been compromised and plan for restocking.
• Customer Communication: Service interruptions often lead to customer confusion. Businesses must now actively communicate their operational status to inform customers that services are available again.
• Staffing: With power restored, businesses can bring back staff to full operational capacity, managing labor costs and ensuring customer service levels are met.

Tourism Operators (Hotels, Tour Companies, Vacation Rentals)

West Maui is a vital hub for Hawaii's tourism industry, and the power restoration directly impacts the ability of hospitality businesses to serve visitors.

• Guest Services: Hotels rely heavily on electricity for HVAC systems, lighting, elevators, kitchen operations, and guest amenities. Stable power is essential for maintaining guest comfort and satisfaction.
• Tour Operations: Tour companies, including boat excursions and adventure activities, require power for equipment, booking systems, and communication. Restoration ensures these services can operate as scheduled.
• Vacation Rentals: If any vacation rentals were in areas affected by the PSPS, owners and managers need to confirm electrical systems are fully functional to adequately host guests.
• Booking & Reservations: The prolonged power outage might have led to cancellations or booking disruptions. With power back, operators can focus on managing existing reservations and attracting new bookings.

Real Estate Owners (Property Owners, Developers, Landlords, Property Managers)

For property owners and managers in west Maui, the confirmed power restoration is a signal for renewed economic activity and tenant stability.

• Tenant Operations: Landlords need to confirm with their commercial tenants that power is stable, enabling tenants to resume their business operations and meet their lease obligations.
• Property Management: Property managers can now ensure that any facilities management tasks that were on hold due to the outage can proceed, such as essential maintenance or amenity operations.
• Development Projects: While the PSPS itself does not directly halt development, the restoration of power ensures that ongoing construction sites have necessary power for operations and that adjacent commercial properties are functioning, which can indirectly affect development timelines and feasibility.

Second-Order Effects

While the immediate impact is the resumption of operations, the ripple effects of even a short-term PSPS and subsequent restoration in a concentrated area like west Maui are felt throughout Hawaii's island economy.

• Supply Chain Strain: The sudden demand for restocking perishable goods by numerous restaurants and retailers in west Maui simultaneously can strain local distribution networks and potentially lead to temporary shortages or increased costs for products like ice, fresh produce, and dairy.
• Labor Re-engagement Pressure: As businesses resume full operations, there's an immediate need to re-engage staff who may have been sent home or had hours reduced. This can create a temporary surge in demand for labor within the affected zone, potentially impacting wage negotiations for businesses that are still recovering or operating outside the restored area.
• Tourism Confidence: While power restoration is positive, the disruption caused by PSPS events can, over time, contribute to a perception of increased risk for visitors. This could indirectly influence destination choices if such events become more frequent, impacting airline capacity planning and long-term tourism strategy.

What to Do

Small Business Operators

Act Now: Within the next 24-48 hours, proactively verify the status of your electrical systems and confirm full power restoration.

1. Physical Check: Conduct a thorough check of all critical equipment (refrigeration units, ovens, POS systems, lighting) to ensure they are functioning correctly.
2. Inventory Assessment: Immediately assess perishable inventory. Discard any items that may have been compromised during the outage. Plan for replenishment orders.
3. Communicate to Customers: Update your website, social media, and any other customer communication channels to announce your operational status. Inform customers that you are open and ready to serve.
4. Staff Notification: Contact your staff to confirm return-to-work schedules. Ensure that any staffing adjustments made during the outage are reversed.
5. Review Backup Systems: If applicable, test any backup generators or uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems. This event highlights their importance, and their reliability should be confirmed.

Tourism Operators

Act Now: Confirm stable power across all operational areas and amenities immediately.

1. Facility Check: Conduct a comprehensive inspection of all hotel facilities, including guest rooms, common areas, kitchens, and back-of-house operations, to ensure all electrical systems are functioning optimally.
2. Service Confirmation: Verify that all guest services that rely on electricity (e.g., air conditioning, Wi-Fi, catering services, tour equipment) are operational.
3. Guest Communication: Proactively inform guests about the full restoration of services. Address any guest concerns stemming from the outage and reassure them of a comfortable stay.
4. Staff Briefing: Brief your staff on the restored operational status and any procedures related to the post-outage period. Ensure they are prepared to handle anticipated guest needs.
5. Booking Channel Updates: If your booking channels were affected or if you experienced cancellations, update availability and consider promotional offers to encourage re-bookings.

Real Estate Owners

Watch: Monitor tenant communications and ensure property infrastructure is stable.

1. Tenant Outreach: Reach out to all commercial tenants in west Maui to confirm their power has been fully restored and their operations are back online. Offer support if any immediate issues arise.
2. Property Infrastructure Check: Inspect common electrical infrastructure for any signs of damage or strain that might have occurred during the PSPS or the restoration process.
3. Report Any Anomalies: If any unusual electrical behavior is noted, contact Hawaiian Electric or a qualified electrician for assessment.