Power has been restored on Kalaupapa and efforts are underway to get patients and staff back to the settlement by next week, Hawaii health officials said today.

Electricity service in Kalaupapa was restored at 1:45 p.m. after being knocked out as major Hurricane Nolo passed south of the state last weekend.

“DOH has begun coordinating with patients, staff and other residents to begin their return to Kalaupapa,” department officials said in a written statement. “The patients are scheduled to return to Kalaupapa early next week. DOH continues to coordinate with the National Park Service and other partners to support a safe return to the settlement.”

Hawaiian Electric assisted NPS with repairs to a power line along the Kalaupapa Pali on Molokai. HECO officials said that, at NPS’ request, it provided personnel, equipment and helicopter support to help repair the damaged section of line.

“The primary issue was damage to the conductor extending from the top of the pali to the settlement below,” company officials said in a news release. “Restoring service required crews to access the remote ridge-top location and use helicopter support to install new conductor along the steep route down to Kalaupapa.”

Two Hansen’s disease patients and about 50 staff are still waiting to return to their homes at the settlement on Molokai. They have been displaced since Sept. 11, when persistent problems with a malfunctioning pump depleted water storage supplies, resulting in their evacuation.

The Health Department temporarily relocated the two patients to its care home on Oahu, while staff stayed with family and friends or at hotels.

Although the water system had been fixed, the power outage on Sunday delayed their return.

The NPS owns and maintains the electrical system serving Kalaupapa, and coordinated repair efforts following the outage, including permission to access the damaged line from a private property owner at the top of Kalaupapa Trail.

The Health Department is responsible for the care and treatment of Hansen’s disease patients at Kalaupapa.

Power has been restored on Kalaupapa and efforts are underway to get patients and staff back to the settlement by next week, Hawaii health officials said today.

Electricity service in Kalaupapa was restored at 1:45 p.m. after being knocked out as major Hurricane Nolo passed south of the state last weekend.

“DOH has begun coordinating with patients, staff and other residents to begin their return to Kalaupapa,” department officials said in a written statement. “The patients are scheduled to return to Kalaupapa early next week. DOH continues to coordinate with the National Park Service and other partners to support a safe return to the settlement.”

Hawaiian Electric assisted NPS with repairs to a power line along the Kalaupapa Pali on Molokai. HECO officials said that, at NPS’ request, it provided personnel, equipment and helicopter support to help repair the damaged section of line.

“The primary issue was damage to the conductor extending from the top of the pali to the settlement below,” company officials said in a news release. “Restoring service required crews to access the remote ridge-top location and use helicopter support to install new conductor along the steep route down to Kalaupapa.”

Two Hansen’s disease patients and about 50 staff are still waiting to return to their homes at the settlement on Molokai. They have been displaced since Sept. 11, when persistent problems with a malfunctioning pump depleted water storage supplies, resulting in their evacuation.

The Health Department temporarily relocated the two patients to its care home on Oahu, while staff stayed with family and friends or at hotels.

Although the water system had been fixed, the power outage on Sunday delayed their return.

The NPS owns and maintains the electrical system serving Kalaupapa, and coordinated repair efforts following the outage, including permission to access the damaged line from a private property owner at the top of Kalaupapa Trail.

The Health Department is responsible for the care and treatment of Hansen’s disease patients at Kalaupapa.