Hurricane Lala weakened to a tropical storm on Sunday as it bypassed Hawaii without hitting land. Despite this, the storm brought strong gusts and heavy rain, accumulating nearly one meter in some areas and causing torrents to flow down mountainsides.
A search-and-rescue operation was initiated by Civil Defence, the National Guard, and a coast guard helicopter after flash floods reportedly swept several homes off their foundations in the coastal towns of Na’alehu and Wai’ohinu near the southern tip of the Big Island.
Hawaii County Mayor Kimo Alameda described the challenging conditions due to rushing water, debris, boulders on roads, and darkness, making rescue efforts difficult. Tragically, one person died in a vehicle accident in the South Point region of the Big Island, as confirmed by Governor Josh Green.
Honolulu faced severe weather conditions on Sunday morning as the tropical storm effects spread across the island chain. The Honolulu Fire Department responded to numerous weather-related incidents, including downed trees, roofs, power lines, and a swimmer rescue.
Many parts of the state were under a flash flood warning, although the U.S. National Hurricane Center downgraded the Big Island to a flood advisory. The main threats included heavy rain, mudslides, fallen trees, flooding, and power outages, warned meteorologist Stephen Parker.
Over 200,000 properties were without electricity by mid-morning, with a significant portion on the Big Island affected. The storm caused powerful waves along the coast and brought heavy rain and strong winds without making direct landfall.
Tropical storm warnings remained in place for multiple islands, with the potential for destructive flooding and wildfires due to strong winds on the drier sides of the islands. Lanai, Moloka’i, and Oahu were experiencing the heaviest rainfall, while gusts of over 161 km/h were recorded at Mauna Kea volcano.
As of the latest update, Lala was located about 220 kilometers west of Honolulu, with sustained winds of 100 km/h. The storm was moving west-northwest at 28 km/h, and forecasters anticipated little change in intensity through Monday.
Communities braced for the storm’s impact by opening shelters, canceling events, and advising precautions to mitigate potential damage. The Punalu’u Bake Shop in Naalehu suffered significant damage, while residents across the islands remained vigilant amid power outages and adverse weather conditions.