Abandoned Wind Farm on the Road to South Point Naalehu, Hawaii

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Description: Driving back from the southern tip of Hawaii's big island, the southernmost point in the US, we came across this abandoned field of windmills. Strange, because the area gets so much wind, you think they'd turn (heh) a huge profit. The sky was ominous, and the sound of the blades turning, eerie.

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Visitor 111864

02/20/2009

Apollo Energy Corporation purchased and repowered the retired Kamaoa Wind Farm which began commercial operation in 1987. Now owned and operated by Tawhiri Power LLC and renamed Pakini Nui Wind Farm, it consists of 14 General Electric turbines producing 21 megawatts. It was returned to service in April 2007. The purchase power agreement with Hawaii Electric Light Company was approved by the Public Utilities Commission on March 10, 2005. Kamaoa Wind Farm consisted of 37 Mitsubishi 250-kilowatt wind turbines capable of generating up to 9.3 megawatts.

Visitor 28107

12/06/2007

It was older technology that went online in 1985. Westinghouse, the maker of the turbines, dropped out of wind energy manufacturing and didn’t offer upgrades. As parts ran out, maintenance went up and these old units weren’t nearly as efficient as newer technology. The landowner, Campbell Estates, controls the property and hasn’t done anything with it. Meanwhile, new wind farms are being built all over Hawaii.

Visitor 19954

10/30/2007

The steel must be wort quite a bit, surely the should melt the steel and use it to build new turbines. www.yesturbines.com

Visitor 18402

10/16/2007

kamaoa wind farm-google it! They were crappy generators that needed too much maintenence. I was there 10-10-07 and none of those were turning, but there are new farms in the distance that are already producing more power with less generators. very eerie place.

Visitor 16726

09/26/2007

why was it abandoned ? Does anyone know ?