Hurricane Lala passed within about 35 miles of Hawaiʻi Island late Saturday as a Category 1 storm, then weakened to a tropical storm as it moved west, leaving heavy rains, flash flooding, damaged bridges and major power outages across the state, officials said.
- Lala passed within roughly 30–35 miles of Hawaiʻi Island as a Category 1 before weakening to a tropical storm.
- Initial reports indicate roughly 100–219 homes damaged or swept from foundations and multiple bridges and roads damaged, isolating some communities.
- More than 180,000 Hawaiian Electric customers lost power; utility said repairs in remote areas could take weeks to months.
What happened: immediate impact and official assessments
State and local officials described widespread impacts across the islands. Governor Josh Green and county leaders said emergency crews were responding to flash floods and washed-away properties after Lala’s eyewall came very close to the Big Island.
Authorities reported roughly 100 to 219 homes damaged or swept off foundations in initial assessments. The National Weather Service and county officials said some locations recorded exceptionally heavy rainfall — up to about 32–35 inches (around 80–90 centimeters) in places — which drove destructive flooding and mudslides on steep slopes.
At least one person died in a vehicle crash in the Ocean View/South Point area of the Big Island; officials have said there is no indication the crash was directly caused by the storm. Emergency responders carried out search-and-rescue operations in the Kaʻū district, including Nāʻālehu and Waiʻōhinu, where some communities were temporarily cut off.
Infrastructure, roads and bridges
Damage to roads and bridges was a major consequence of the storm. Hawaiʻi County Mayor Kimo Alameda said an aerial survey revealed “devastation” in the Kaʻū District and identified multiple bridges that were significantly damaged or destroyed. Officials said the town of Pāhala was completely isolated until teams could restore a route to the area’s hospital, and other southside communities remained reachable only from the Kona side.
County and state transportation officials warned that long-term repairs may be needed for some roads and bridges, complicating access for residents and for crews trying to assess and repair utilities.
Power outages and utility response
Utilities reported widespread outages across multiple islands. Outage-tracking data cited by officials showed more than 180,000 Hawaiian Electric customers without power at various points Sunday, with reports ranging from about 183,000 customers without electricity in the afternoon to earlier counts above 200,000. Hawaiian Electric told authorities that major transmission lines were damaged on Hawaiʻi Island, Maui and Oahu and that some rural customers could be without power for weeks or longer while repairs proceed.
The utility requested mainland mutual-assistance crews; state and company statements said additional workers were being mobilized to arrive in the coming days. Hawaiian Electric said restoration priorities include hospitals, water and wastewater facilities, military installations and airports, and that crews were using ground inspections, helicopters and drones where conditions allowed.
Officials also said at least three hospitals temporarily ran on generators during outages.
Humanitarian and community impacts
Hundreds of residents sought shelter: officials reported about 117 people in state shelters on Sunday. Local community groups and nonprofit partners were fielding requests for assistance and the county set up a damage-report portal for residents to submit information about storm impacts.
Businesses and local services were hit. On the Big Island, the Punaluʻu Bake Shop in Nāʻālehu — a notable local employer and tourist spot — suffered severe damage from mud and floodwater that swept through its premises.
Meteorology and outlook
The National Hurricane Center and the Central Pacific Hurricane Center said Lala weakened below hurricane strength as it moved west-northwest. On Sunday afternoon advisories put maximum sustained winds near 65 mph (about 100 kph) while the system tracked away from the main islands. Forecasters cautioned that the storm could regain strength once it moves farther west, with projections at that time allowing for the possibility of Lala becoming a hurricane again later in the week.
Tropical storm warnings were in effect for portions of the island chain while flood warnings and watches remained active in many areas as emergency operations continued.
Timeline (key developments)
- Saturday night: Lala intensified to Category 1 and its eyewall passed within roughly 30–35 miles of the Big Island, bringing hurricane-force winds near island summits and torrential rain to windward slopes.
- Early Sunday: Officials reported significant flooding, search-and-rescue operations launched in Kaʻū communities, and initial counts of damaged homes and infrastructure began to emerge.
- Sunday afternoon: Lala was downgraded to a tropical storm; utility outage counts varied but exceeded 180,000 customers statewide; damage assessments and aerial surveys identified multiple damaged bridges and cut-off communities.
- Following days: Hawaiian Electric requested mutual-assistance crews from the U.S. mainland; officials warned restoration in remote areas could take weeks to months depending on road access and transmission repairs.
What's unresolved or under review
Officials emphasized that initial counts of damaged homes and infrastructure are preliminary and subject to revision as crews gain access to isolated areas. There are differing tallies in early reports — for example, state and local statements cited about 100 homes damaged while other counts and trackers showed higher totals for outages — and authorities warned that numbers will be refined as assessments continue.
Investigations into the fatal vehicle crash in Ocean View/South Point are ongoing; state officials said there is no clear evidence at this time tying the crash directly to storm conditions.
Practical implications for residents and travelers
Officials asked residents to stay off damaged roads while emergency crews work and to follow local instructions on sheltering and boil-water advisories where water systems were affected. Travelers were advised to confirm flight status with airlines despite airports reopening, as road and utility damage could still affect regional access.
Context and significance
Hawaii has not seen a hurricane strike its main islands since powerful Hurricane Iniki hit Kauai in 1992, but the state has experienced other severe weather events in recent years, including deadly wildfires in 2023. Officials and meteorologists noted that a strong El Niño and unusually warm ocean temperatures can contribute to conditions that favor tropical cyclone formation and intensification in the Pacific; forecasters said ocean warmth was an element of this season’s heightened activity.
Sources and attribution
This article is based on reporting and official statements from the National Hurricane Center, state and county officials in Hawaiʻi, Hawaiian Electric outage data, and contemporaneous coverage by the Associated Press, BBC, Hawai‘i Public Radio and other local reporting. Specific on-the-record figures and descriptions in this article reflect those agencies’ and outlets’ published updates.
Key takeaways: Hurricane Lala skirted the Big Island as a Category 1 before weakening, producing catastrophic rain and flooding in parts of Hawaiʻi, cutting off communities, damaging roads and bridges, and leaving more than 180,000 customers without power while assessments and repairs continue.
