Hurricane Lala bypassed Hawaii's Big Island on Saturday without making landfall but brought strong winds and heavy rainfall that resulted in flooding and transformed rivers into rapid torrents. The chance of the island experiencing its first direct hit from a hurricane in 155 years diminished as the storm's eye skirted the southern tip of the island. According to National Weather Service meteorologist Joseph Clark, landfall is no longer anticipated.
Despite the lack of direct impact, hurricane-force winds will persist into the overnight hours, particularly affecting higher terrain. The National Hurricane Center has warned that the heavy rainfall expected to continue into Sunday could lead to further flooding and mudslides, with dangerous waves battering the coastline.
Tropical storm warnings remain active for several islands in the region, including Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe, Oahu, Kauai, and Niihau, as Lala continues its westward path. The Big Island, which is Hawaii's largest island, has a population of around 210,000 residents.
On the Big Island, residents faced relentless weather conditions with whitecap surf crashing ashore, high winds whipping through palm trees, and waterways swelling with fast-moving runoff from the rain. Governor Josh Green reported that at least one person died in a car accident in South Point, and severe weather caused damage, including the loss of 19 roofs and the postponement of 190 flights. “You definitely want to be home, do not be out on the roads,” he emphasized.
Forecasters predict that elevated regions of the Big Island, dominated by the Mauna Kea volcano, could see as much as 25 inches (63.5 centimeters) of rain. This substantial rainfall poses a risk of life-threatening mudslides in areas where residents live off the grid in improvised housing. Governor Green described the storm as an “enormous storm” capable of causing destructive flooding, and he also noted the potential for wildfires triggered by the strong winds.
As the storm approached, thousands of homes lost power. Bobby Camara, a 75-year-old lifelong resident, shared his plan to stay put, hoping for the lights to remain on at the care home he resides in just outside Hilo. He observed that gas stations were bustling as locals were stocking up on fuel for their chainsaws and vehicles. “I think stocking up is part of life over here... You learn to be self-reliant,” Camara remarked.
Mike Caputo, a Keaau resident near the Big Island's east coast, prepared by fueling up his power generator and filling his 10,000-gallon (37.8 kiloliter) home water tank. He expressed concern about flash flooding and falling trees, particularly the unstable albizia trees, which can cause impassable roads.
On Saturday, Lala intensified into a Category 1 hurricane as its maximum sustained winds reached 75 mph (120 kph). The last hurricane to make landfall in the Hawaiian Islands was Hurricane Iniki in 1992, a Category 4 storm that resulted in $3 billion worth of damage and six fatalities. Governor Green noted that the last direct hit on the Big Island occurred in 1871 when a Category 3 hurricane impacted the northeastern area.
In response to the impending storm, shelters were opened across the region, events were canceled, and ranchers were advised to leave cattle in pastures rather than risk housing them in structures susceptible to collapse. Christine Matsuda from Waimea reported significant wind gusts rattling her house and unexpected leaks in areas that typically remain dry.
The hurricane center predicts 8 to 12 inches (20.3 to 30.5 centimeters) of rainfall for Maui and lower elevations of the Big Island, while the rest of the island chain can expect 4 to 6 inches (10.2 to 15.2 centimeters). Many residents are still coping with the repercussions of devastating floods that occurred in March.
