Residents of a ‘sustainable’ Hawaiian island owned by billionaire Larry Ellison were without power for more than two days after a storm.<\/p>\n
The entire island of Lanai – 98 per cent of which was purchased by Ellison in 2012 –\u00a0lost electrical service after strong winds snapped or damaged utility poles on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Crews restored power to most of the residents, including 1,575 Lanai City customers, just before 1am today, but people living in one small town remained without electricity.<\/p>\n
Ellison, 72, bought the island in 2012 with a vision of sustainability, including a future powered by solar energy,\u00a0according to the website for Pulama Lanai, his management company on the island.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The entire Hawaiian island of Lanai – 98 per cent of which is owned by billionaire Larry Ellison after he bought the land in 2012 – lost electrical service after strong winds hit the island on Saturday. Pictured above damage from a recent storm is shown in this photo provided by Maui Electric Company on the island of Lanai, Hawaii<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
A spokeswoman referred questions to the Maui Electric Co. utility.<\/p>\n
As of Tuesday morning, 125 customers in the Manele area remained without power, but utility crews continued to work on repairs through the day.<\/p>\n
Maui Electric said crews worked to repair 19 utility poles on the 141-square-mile island where about 3,000 people live.<\/p>\n
The repairs involved replacing all of the 19 damaged 45-to-50 foot tall poles, resetting new ones and then restringing about a mile of lines along Kaumalapau Highway to Miki Basin and cross-country to Manele Bay, the company said.<\/p>\n
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Windstorm damage across the state was the most extensive in years, knocking out power to thousands of people, said Hawaiian Electric, the parent company of Maui Electric.<\/p>\n
Lanai lost electricity and telephone service on Saturday night, said Maui County spokesman Rod Antone. Cellphone service was spotty, he said.<\/p>\n
Lanai High and elementary school were to be in session on Tuesday, a spokeswoman for Hawaii’s education department said.<\/p>\n
Donalyn Dela Cruz, however, said parents should ‘feed their children breakfast as the school is unable to serve breakfast meals… The school will be serving a modified lunch’.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ellison bought 98 per cent of Lanai from billionaire David Murdock in June 2012 for an undisclosed price. He purchased the island with a vision of sustainability<\/p>\n
Ellison bought the island in 2012 with a vision of sustainability, including a future powered by solar energy, according to the website for Pulama Lanai, his management company on the island<\/p>\n
Ellison revamped the entire Four Seasons resort (pictured above) shortly after purchasing the island. It was up and operating on Tuesday following the power outage<\/p>\n
There are two large, luxury hotels on Lanai, formerly known for its pineapple crop.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Four Seasons Resort Lanai was open and operating – but the main phone line was down – while The Lodge at Koele is closed for renovations, a Four Seasons spokeswoman said.<\/p>\n
Ellison revamped the entire Four Seasons resort shortly after purchasing the island. Rooms are available at the resort for a minimum of $800 a night. \u00a0<\/p>\n
Ellison, who is the fifth richest man in the world and is worth an estimated $49.2billion, according to Forbes, purchased the island with a vision of sustainability.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The Oracle founder bought 98 per cent of Lanai from billionaire David Murdock in June 2012 for an undisclosed price.<\/p>\n
The Maui News reported that Murdock, the CEO of Castle & Cooke Inc, was seeking $500million to $600million for his Lanai holdings.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In October 2012, Ellison said he wanted to turn Lanai into a ‘little laboratory’ for experimenting with more environmentally sound ways to live.<\/p>\n
Oracle CEO Larry Ellison’s ambitions include converting sea water into fresh water on the 141-square-mile island of Lanai.<\/p>\n