Hurricane Lala weakened to a tropical storm on Sunday as it passed near Hawaii without making direct landfall. Despite this, the storm brought strong winds and heavy rainfall, with some areas receiving nearly one meter of rain and experiencing flash floods that damaged homes and triggered a search-and-rescue operation by Civil Defence, the National Guard, and a coast guard helicopter in Na’alehu and Wai’ohinu coastal communities.
Hawaii County Mayor Kimo Alameda mentioned the challenges faced during the rescue efforts due to rushing water, debris, and darkness. Tragically, one fatality was reported in a vehicle accident in the South Point area of the Big Island.
Honolulu experienced the brunt of the storm with numerous weather-related incidents reported, including downed trees, roofs, power lines, and a swimmer rescue. Most of the state remained under a flash flood warning, although the Big Island was downgraded to a flood advisory by the U.S. National Hurricane Center.
Over 200,000 homes and businesses were left without power, especially on the Big Island, where hospitals were operating on generator power. The storm also caused powerful waves along the coast and threatened destructive flooding and potentially wildfires on the drier sides of the islands.
Tropical storm warnings remained in effect for several islands, with Lanai, Moloka’i, and Oahu experiencing the heaviest rain and strongest winds. As of the latest update, Hurricane Lala was centered west of Honolulu with sustained winds of 100 km/h, moving at a speed of 28 km/h.
The storm was expected to maintain its intensity through Monday, and there were concerns about potential re-strengthening into a hurricane later in the week. The Big Island, particularly areas near Mauna Kea, received significant rainfall, leading to risks of mudslides and flooding in higher-altitude regions.
Precautionary measures were taken, including opening shelters, cancelling events, and advising ranchers to secure cattle in safe areas. The impact of the storm was evident, with businesses like the Punalu’u Bake Shop suffering severe damage, and residents like Kate McLellan preparing for the worst as they faced power outages and monitored the storm’s progress closely.