News Release

Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and Hawaiʻi Electric Light Company seek comments on electrical transmission line relocation project

Hawaiʻi Electric Light Company electrical transmission lines through a forested area of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.

Photo courtesy Tetra Tech

News Release Date: December 18, 2023

Contact: Ben Hayes, 808-985-6010

HAWAII NATIONAL PARK, Hawaiʻi – Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park (HVNP) in coordination with Hawaiʻi Electric Light Company (HELCO) is requesting public input on a proposed electrical transmission line relocation within the park.  

The project includes an area between Piʻi Mauna Drive and the Hilo-side park boundary near Old Volcano Road. The project is considered Phase 3 of HELCO’s efforts to upgrade and harden the 3400 Line, which spans from Puna to just outside the park’s boundary on the Kaʻū side.  

Phase 1 and 2 of the project included an area between the Kīlauea Switching Station outside the Kaʻū-side boundary of the park to Piʻi Mauna Drive within the park. It was completed in 2020.   

The primary purpose of the project is to relocate, upgrade, and bring up to code the sub-transmission electric utility poles and power lines. The update will improve capacity, lower impedance, and make the poles and lines more resistant to weather events.  

Existing poles and lines are located along a corridor with hazardous terrain, including earth cracks and lava tubes. Maintenance and repairs are currently difficult and unsafe. Relocating the line along the highway will also help reduce potential impacts to the forested areas in HVNP.  

HVNP is working closely with HELCO and Tetra Tech, Inc. to develop and analyze alternatives, develop mitigation measures, and conduct consultations. Two main actions are proposed: 

1. Relocate the existing power line by installing new poles and transmission and distribution lines along 2.6 miles of Highway 11; and  

2. Remove and/or decommission approximately 2.6 miles of existing poles and transmission and distribution lines within the current power line alignment in HVNP. 

HVNP is initiating the scoping process under the National Environmental Policy Act to determine the extent and nature of issues and alternatives that should be considered in an environmental assessment. There are three ways to provide input on the proposed project:  

• Online: Visit https://parkplanning.nps.gov/Phase3 for project information to submit your comment online. 

• Email: Email comments to [e-mail]. 

• Hard copy: Mail written comments to the following address:  
  Attn: 3400 Phase 3 Power Line Relocation 
  Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park 
  P.O. Box 52 
  Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, HI 96718-0052 

Comments must be submitted online, via email, or postmarked by January 14, 2024 to be considered in the draft environmental assessment. 

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