Photos and video by Baron Sekiya/Hawaii247.com

Fire, police and HELCO crews responded to Banyan Drive when an explosion blew open a manhole.

An explosion in a utility manhole along Banyan Drive near the entrance to Queen Liliuokalani Gardens blew a 6×7 foot concrete and metal cover open, shorted out circuits and led to a power outage in the area. Hawaii Electric Light Company crews were investigating the late Thursday afternoon blast with fire and police crews on hand. Banyan Drive was closed in the north-bound lane as emergency vehicles were on scene but was opened to traffic less than an hour later.

Hotels and businesses along Banyan drive were thrown into darkness and HELCO crews were planning to make repairs to the shorted switch and circuits in the manhole.