Power failure darkens 3 UH sporting events

By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer

A power failure left thousands of homes and businesses in the dark last night, with the biggest impact felt at the University of Hawai'i campus where three athletic events were under way.

The failure began at 7:43 p.m. and affected the Manoa, Kaimuki and Diamond Head areas. An estimated 5,500 customers were without power for about an hour, said Hawaiian Electric spokesman Fred Kobashikawa.

Kobashikawa said HECO crews believe the problem was caused by a short-circuit in overhead power lines in Manoa Valley. He said a 46,000-volt line de-energized, causing the electricity to go out.

HECO crews will return to the area today to determine the exact cause, he said.

The blackout brought athletes and fans at three UH sporting events to a standstill. At the Stan Sheriff Center, the Rainbow Warriors and Cal State Northridge Matadors were deadlocked at 30 each when the lights went out.

The Rainbow baseball team had just finished batting against Sacramento State in the bottom of the first inning when the field lights went out at Les Murakami Stadium. The fans were not in the dark, however, because the lights stayed on in the concourse area, concession stand and press box.

The 20-minute power failure followed a 2 hour, 20 minute rain delay.

At the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium, the Chevron State Softball Tournament was interrupted when the lights went out.

Traffic lights in the area also were knocked out, causing a busy, rainy evening on Honolulu's roadways to get even worse.