Hawaiian Electric Co. has initiated the installation of high-resolution video cameras, incorporating artificial intelligence technology, to aid in the early detection of potential fires in areas with elevated fire risks near the company's power infrastructure. The company has successfully set up the primary camera station in Lahaina and plans to deploy an additional 78 stations in elevated fire-risk areas across the five islands it serves, with completion expected in the first half of 2025. This $14 million project will have half of the cameras installed by September, funded in part by the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

Hawaiian Electric aims to address wildfire risks within its service territory by implementing various technologies and methods. The public will have access to the cameras' 24/7 feeds, which will be monitored by the company and utilized by fire agencies and emergency operations centers to identify and respond swiftly to potential wildfire threats. California-based contractor, ALERTWest, will provide the technology and services for this five-year project, leveraging its software used in fire-prone regions of the West to detect smoke and early signs of fire. Human operators will verify and filter out false positives, notifying Hawaiian Electric and relevant emergency response agencies of suspected ignitions.