Hurricane Lala was downgraded to a tropical storm on Sunday as it bypassed Hawaii without a direct landfall. However, the storm unleashed powerful gusts and heavy rainfall, accumulating nearly a meter of rain in some areas and causing torrents to cascade down mountain slopes.
Emergency responders, including Civil Defence, National Guard, and coast guard helicopter teams, initiated a search-and-rescue operation following flash floods that reportedly swept several homes off their foundations in Na’alehu and Wai’ohinu coastal communities near the southern tip of the Big Island.
Hawaii County Mayor Kimo Alameda described the challenging conditions, emphasizing the presence of rushing water, debris, and boulders on the roads amidst darkness. Tragically, one fatality was reported in a vehicle accident in the South Point region of the Big Island.
Honolulu faced the brunt of the storm on Sunday morning as tropical storm conditions spread across the island chain. The Honolulu Fire Department responded to numerous weather-related incidents, including downed trees, blown roofs, power line disruptions, and a swimmer rescue.
While most of the state was under a flash flood warning, the U.S. National Hurricane Center downgraded the Big Island to a flood advisory. The major threats included heavy rain, mudslides, fallen trees, flooding, and power outages.
Approximately 200,000 homes and businesses were without power, with a significant portion on the Big Island affected. The storm generated powerful waves along the coast, narrowly missing a direct hit but still causing significant impact.
Tropical storm warnings were in effect for multiple islands, with Lanai, Molokai, and Oahu experiencing the heaviest rain. Strong winds were recorded at Mauna Kea volcano on the Big Island, with sustained winds around 100 km/h.
As of the latest update, Hurricane Lala was positioned west of Honolulu with sustained winds of 100 km/h. Forecasters anticipated limited changes in storm intensity through Monday, with the potential for Lala to regain hurricane status well west of the island chain.
The aftermath of the storm left significant damage, including severe flooding at Punalu’u Bake Shop in Naalehu. Residents across Hawaii remained vigilant, recalling past weather-related disasters and taking necessary precautions.
