Wind rotor blamed for toppling utility poles in March

Hawaiian Electric Co. officials concluded that a wind rotor and termite damage contributed to bringing down a dozen of their utility poles along Farrington Highway in Nanakuli last month.

HECO spokesman Jose Dizon said their investigators found that the problem started with a weather phenomenon known as a wind rotor that blew down two utility poles near Freedom Gasoline station at Farrington Highway and Nanaikeola Street at 1:04 p.m. March 12. As the poles went down, they pulled down 10 more poles in both directions between Helelua Street and Lualualei Naval Road, crashing on vehicles and snarling traffic until the next day.

"We've heard different wind speeds reported since then ... but we know they were around the 35- to 40-mph range, with gusts of up to 50 mph," said Dizon. "A wiliwili tree was also blown down at the same time, so that gives you an idea of how strong the winds were."

National Weather Service meteorologist Andy Nash said a wind rotor is produced when winds come up a mountain from one side, gain speed and start spinning in a circular motion after coming down on the other side.

"As it goes down the mountain, it's accelerated," Nash said. "It results in stronger gusts of winds that you normally wouldn't have if the mountains weren't there."

Dizon also said one of the first two poles that came down had "significant termite damage." Another pole with termite damage was found among the other 10 poles, he said.

HECO and Hawaiian Telcom officials are in the process of reviewing claims made by property owners reporting damage from the falling utility poles. The deadline for claims is April 11. For information about filing a claim, call HECO at 543-4624.