Hurricane Lala Causes Severe Weather Impacts in Hawaii

The Wainaku Street Bridge in Hilo on the Big Island of Hawaii faced the challenge of rising water levels on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026, due to the effects of Hurricane Lala. On Sunday, the hurricane weakened into a tropical storm after passing by Hawaii without making landfall. Yet, it continued to impact the Big Island with hurricane-force winds.

Significant rainfall nearly three feet deep was anticipated on the windward slopes, transforming rivers into torrents and posing the risk of mudslides. The tropical storm impacted areas from Maui to Oahu and Kauai. The National Hurricane Center noted that wind speeds on mountains and slopes could be 30% stronger than those measured at lower elevations. As Lala moved slowly past, powerful waves hit the Big Island’s coast. Intense winds bent palm trees while relentless sideways rain caused waterways to swell.

Power was lost for more than 130,000 households as reported by poweroutage.us. Governor Josh Green said that three hospitals relied on generator power. A car accident in the South Point area led to one death, and 19 roofs were lost. The governor mentioned that crews responded to over 30 sites affected by the storm.

A rescue mission involving Civil Defense, the National Guard, and Coast Guard was launched following flash floods that displaced several homes in Na’alehu and Wai’ohinu, near the southern end of the island. Mayor Kimo Alameda remarked on the challenges posed by rushing water, debris, and boulders, especially at night.

What’s Next for Lala

Tropical storm warnings continued for the islands including Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe, Oahu, Kauai, and Niihau as the storm moved westward. These conditions raised concerns about possible destructive flooding and wildfires ignited by strong winds. As of early Sunday, Lala was located roughly 105 miles west-northwest of Kailua-Kona and 100 miles south of Honolulu, with winds extending up to 175 miles from its center. Wind speeds reached 70 mph while the storm moved northwest at 15 mph. It was expected to strengthen into a hurricane again midweek, once it moved further west.

Forecasters predicted rainfall amounts could reach 35 inches in higher-altitude regions of the Big Island, particularly around Mauna Kea volcano. This volume of rain could loosen slopes and affect those living in off-the-grid housing.

This satellite image from NOAA shows Tropical Storm Lala over the Pacific Ocean, near Hawaii, Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026.

Residents Prepared for the Worst

Shelters were opened, events canceled, and ranchers were advised to leave cattle in open pastures instead of potentially collapsing structures. Some residents were still recovering from previous floods in March and took steps to prepare. Bobby Camara, a 75-year-old Hilo resident, planned to “hunker down and cross my fingers” outside Hilo, expecting busy gas stations as people prepared chain saws and vehicles.

In Keaau, Mike Caputo ensured his power generator and water tank were ready. He was mainly concerned about flash floods and falling trees, especially albizia, which are large but not sturdy, creating road blockages.

Warnings Posted Everywhere

Christine Matsuda from Waimea described the periodic “big gusts” shaking her home and finding leaks in unexpected places due to the extreme weather. The hurricane center anticipated 8 to 12 inches of rainfall in parts of Maui and lower Big Island elevations, with 4 to 6 inches across the entire island chain.