Tropical Storm Lala Strikes Hawaii, Leaving Power Outages and Damage

Thousands of residents in Hawaii experienced power outages following the impact of Tropical Storm Lala. The storm uprooted trees and caused significant damage from downtown Honolulu to the Big Island. On the southern end of the Big Island, communities became isolated due to blocked roads and disrupted communications. Floodwaters even disturbed grave sites in the area.

The storm claimed one life. A woman who was reported missing in Naalehu was found deceased. No further details about her death have been released.

Lala weakened from a hurricane to a tropical storm as it passed without making landfall. The storm brought heavy rain and flooding, leaving a muddy scene across Hawaii’s main islands. It is moving westward, with forecasts indicating it may regain hurricane strength at sea by Wednesday.

Statewide, public schools and some private institutions along with state offices were closed on Monday. In the Big Island, schools and county offices will remain closed on Tuesday. Cleanup efforts have started, focusing on repairing damaged bridges and clearing fallen trees.

Hawaiian Electric reported that nearly 104,000 customers were without power due to the storm. It caused significant damage to the Big Island’s power transmission system, toppling trees, utility poles, and transmission towers.

The Big Island’s 911 emergency service was temporarily down due to disruptions in radio and telephone communications but was restored by the afternoon, according to the Hawaii Police Department.

State Representative Jeanné Kapela described her district as devastated, mentioning communities like Punaluu, isolated by blocked roads. Two cemeteries in Naalehu experienced washouts. Efforts are underway to establish satellite internet connections for those without power and cellular services.

Governor Josh Green expressed hope that accessibility to the affected areas would improve soon. He urged respect for the sacred ancestral remains disturbed during the storm.

Governor Green pledged that recovery efforts would proceed swiftly and noted that despite the loss of life, the situation could have been much worse.

Approximately 100 homes on the Big Island were swept off their foundations and lost. Residents are advised to avoid ocean water that appears brown or murky.

Though no coastal watches or warnings were in effect, dangerous surf and rip currents persist. Heavy rainfall saturation could still lead to landslides, but winds have subsided, as stated by meteorologist Patrick Blood.

On the Big Island, Laupahoehoe recorded the heaviest rainfall at 43.54 inches. Mauna Kea experienced gusts reaching 140 mph, while lower elevations saw winds of 30 to 40 mph, with gusts up to 60 mph.

The federal government has promised recovery assistance. U.S. Senator Brian Schatz has been in communication with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, urging prompt approval of emergency funding to address road and highway repairs.