Hurricane Lala Weakens but Continues to Impact Hawaii

Hurricane Lala downgraded to a tropical storm on Sunday after brushing past Hawaii without landfall. Despite this, the storm delivered hurricane-force winds to the Big Island. Rainfall is expected to reach nearly 3 feet (1 meter) in higher windward areas, causing rivers to become torrents and increasing the risk of mudslides.

Tropical storm conditions moved westward from Maui to Oahu and then Kauai. The National Hurricane Center cautioned that wind speeds on mountains and slopes can be up to 30% stronger than near-surface winds, which categorize storms.

The Big Island’s coastline faced powerful waves as Lala moved slowly past. High winds and sideways rain affected the area, while water bodies overflowed due to continuous rain.

Stephen Lam / San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images

Over 130,000 households lost power across Hawaii’s three largest islands, according to poweroutage.us. Governor Josh Green reported that at least three hospitals operated on generators. A road accident in South Point on the Big Island resulted in one fatality. ‘The huge storm resulted in the loss of 19 roofs,’ said Governor Green on Saturday evening. ‘Our crews have visited more than 30 impacted sites.’

Gov. Green stated, ‘There have been a lot of roads impacted, our crews have already been out to more than 30 sites.’

A search-and-rescue operation involving Civil Defense, the National Guard, and the Coast Guard, was initiated after flash floods dislodged several occupied homes in Na’alehu and Wai’ohinu. These communities are near the Big Island’s southern point, stated Hawaii County Mayor Kimo Alameda early Sunday.

Alameda remarked, ‘The challenge is the rushing water, debris, boulders on the road, and it’s dark.’

Next Steps for Lala

Tropical storm warnings remain for Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe, Oahu, Kauai, and Niihau. The storm’s westward movement increases the risk of severe flooding and potential wildfires caused by strong winds.

As of 2 a.m. Sunday in Hawaii, Lala centered about 105 miles (170 kilometers) west-northwest of Kailua-Kona and 100 miles (160 kilometers) south of Honolulu. Tropical-storm-force winds extended up to 175 miles (280 kilometers) from its center.

Lala maintained top winds of 70 mph (110 kph) and moved northwest at about 15 mph (24 kph). Forecasters anticipate the storm will regain hurricane strength midweek once it travels well west of Hawaii. By the storm’s end, high-altitude areas on the Big Island, particularly around the Mauna Kea volcano, may receive up to 35 inches (89 centimeters) of rain. This could destabilize steep slopes where around 210,000 residents live in off-grid setups.

Residents Brace for Ongoing Impact

Ahead of the hurricane’s approach, shelters opened, events were canceled, and ranchers were advised to leave cattle in open pastures instead of vulnerable structures. Residents, still recovering from devastating March floods, took multiple precautions.

Bobby Camara, 75 and a lifelong resident, aimed to stay secure at a care home outside Hilo. ‘I hope the lights stay on,’ he remarked. Gas stations were busy as residents prepared with fuel for chainsaws and vehicles. ‘Stocking up is just part of life here,’ Camara added.

Hawaii Department of Transportation

Mike Caputo, residing in Keaau near the Big Island’s east coast, ensured readiness with a power generator and a full 10,000-gallon (37.8 kiloliter) water tank. He feared flash floods and potential roadblocks from fallen trees, especially albizia, a common yet weak local tree.

Caputo mentioned, ‘They’re not very sturdy, but they grow extremely large, potentially blocking roads.’

In Waimea, on the island’s north side, Christine Matsuda experienced significant gusts shaking her home. ‘We’ve found leaks we didn’t know existed under normal weather,’ she shared.

The hurricane center forecasts 8 to 12 inches (20.3 to 30.5 centimeters) of rainfall across Maui and lower Big Island elevations, with 4 to 6 inches (10.2 to 15.2 centimeters) anticipated across the island chain.