Updated at 8:33 a.m., Thursday, July 19, 2007

Power mostly restored in Kaimuki; Waialae lanes shut

Advertiser Staff

Police direct westbound traffic on Wai'alae Avenue near St. Louis Drive In, where a van crashed into a utility pole, cutting power to hundreds in Kaimuki. Eastbound lanes were closed. Richard Ambo/The Honolulu Advertiser

Electricity has been restored to about 1,000 of the 1,200 Hawaiian Electric Co. customers in the greater Kaimuki area who lost service after a car knocked down a utility pole at Third and Wai'alae avenues about 6:30 this morning.

The power was restored at 7:03 a.m. to the bulk of the HECO customers who lost service, said company spokesman Darren Pai.

HECO workers are working to restore service to the remaining 200 customers as soon as possible, Pai said.

Meanwhile, police are allowing westbound traffic only on Wai'alae Avenue near Saint Louis Drive-In because the utility pole that was damaged is reported to be hanging over the eastbound lanes.