Hawaii has secured $18.5 million in federal FEMA funding to support $25 million in electrical grid upgrades across Maui, Hawaii Island, and Oahu. Projects include West Maui hazard mapping, grid modernization, and Critical Customer Hubs in Lahaina — all set for completion between 2027 and 2029.
- Five projects will target grid vulnerabilities caused by wildfires, flooding, and hurricanes, with completion dates ranging from 2027 to 2029.
- Two Critical Customer Hubs are planned for West Maui — at Lahaina Civic Center and Cannery Mall — to keep essential facilities running during prolonged outages.
- A $4.8 million Energy Management System upgrade will enable real-time grid monitoring for Maui and Hawaii Island.
- A hazard identification and mapping project specific to West Maui’s electrical grid is budgeted at $950,000.
- Upgrades are expected to reduce outage frequency, speed up power restoration, and allow rapid grid de-energization for safety.
Source: Hawaii Free Press
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