Safety first when picking fruit

by Michael Choe | Aug. 7, 2022

Picking fruit from your own tree is rewarding, but you can put yourself in danger if you don’t take the right precautions. I’ve always lived in apartments, so I’ve never had the opportunity to harvest fruit from my own backyard. But I’ve seen friends pick mangoes and papayas and it’s more than just reaching up and pulling a ripe fruit from low-hanging branches. If there are power lines nearby, there are additional risks to consider so safety becomes even more important. Here are some questions to ask yourself before picking fruit from trees that are close to power lines:

How far away do I need to be from power lines when picking fruit?
No part of the tree should touch any part of overhead power lines. Your body and any equipment or tools you’re using should be at least 10 feet away from overhead power lines.

If my fruit tree is close to power lines, can I trim it?
Don’t try to manage any vegetation close to power lines as it can be dangerous for you and also your neighbors. Only professionally trained and certified arborists should trim trees that are touching or near power lines. Attempting to trim trees without proper training can lead to serious injury or unexpected outages.

How can I get in touch with a professionally trained and certified arborist to trim a tree that is near power lines?
Using the information below, contact Hawaiian Electric to describe the situation and they can schedule a site visit to inspect the tree(s) if needed. From there, they’ll be able to provide recommendations.

• Oahu: 808–543–7836 or email TrimRequest@hawaiianelectric.com
• Maui County: 808–871–7777
• Hawaii Island: 808–969–6666

What if part of the tree is already touching the power line?
If the tree or part of the tree (including broken branches or fallen fruit) is touching the power line, DO NOT attempt to remove it or you’ll risk serious injury. Instead, contact our Trouble Line as soon as you can.

• Oahu: 1–855–304–1212 toll-free
• Maui: 808–871–7777
• Molokai/Lanai: 1–877–841–8461 toll-free
• Hawaii Island: 808–969–6666

Where can I learn more about fruit-picking safety?
For more information on fruit-picking and other outdoor safety tips, check out Hawaiian Electric’s website: www.hawaiianelectric.com/outdoorsafety. Don’t forget to share your fruit — and these safety tips — with your neighbors!

Michael Choe is a digital communications and social media specialist at Hawaiian Electric.