Hawaiian Electric using drones as a wildfire safety tool

Hawaiian Electric using drones as a wildfire safety tool

Inspections to begin this month on Oahu

Release Date: 10/15/2026

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HONOLULU, Oct. 15, 2026 - As part of its ongoing wildfire safety strategy, Hawaiian Electric is using unmanned aircrafts, or drones, for aerial inspections of its electrical infrastructure in identified wildfire risk areas across its service areas. The drones play a critical role in the inspection process, enabling Hawaiian Electric to more quickly identify issues that will help prevent or lessen the risk of wildfires.

On Oahu, Hawaiian Electric has contracted with Wiggins Tech, an Oregon-based drone services company specializing in inspection and mapping services for the electrical utility industry, to conduct drone inspections alongside the company's own staff. Inspections will be performed weekdays between 7:30 a.m. and 5 p.m., weather permitting. Personnel will drive Hawaiian Electric or Hawaiian Electric contractor marked vehicles. If on foot, the drone operator will wear a Wiggins Tech company-branded hard hat and vest. All personnel will carry a Hawaiian Electric employee or contractor identification badge.

Inspections will begin now through December 2026 across Oahu, on the following schedule:

• North Shore (through early November)
• East Oahu (early November)
• Manoa to Palolo (mid-November)
• West Oahu (mid-November to early December)
• Windward Oahu (early December)
• Central Oahu (mid-December)
• Honolulu to Pearl Harbor (mid-December)

The inspections will be performed at the poles and power lines, and no personnel will enter a home or business. There may be instances where the operator must enter private property to access a utility pole. In these instances, the operator will make their presence known before accessing equipment located on private property. Electric service will not be impacted.

Please call Hawaiian Electric at (808) 548-7311 or Wiggins Tech at (541) 639-9869 for questions about this work.

The Hawaiian Electric Unmanned Aerial Systems program is in full compliance with all Federal Aviation Administration rules and has developed safety, training, operating and privacy procedures to make sure the unmanned aircraft are flown with the highest regard for the safety of the public and crews. Drones performing scheduled flights in support of utility and infrastructure projects are regulated by the FAA. Tampering with or damaging drone equipment or interfering with drone operations could be subject to federal enforcement or citing.