Tropical Storm Lala swept through Hawaii on Sunday and Monday, transitioning from hurricane status before reaching the islands. The storm brought intense rainfall, strong winds, and significant flooding across the state’s main islands, with the southern portion of the Big Island experiencing the most severe impacts.
Isolated communities in the hard-hit Kau district faced severe disruptions, with debris-blocked roads cutting off access and communications. The flooding caused more destruction than wind damage, according to state officials. Officials confirmed one storm-related fatality: a 90-year-old woman from Naalehu who went missing and was found deceased. The flooding also disturbed grave sites at two cemeteries in the area, with authorities cordoning off those locations out of respect for ancestral remains.
Meteorological measurements recorded substantial precipitation and wind activity across the islands. Laupahoehoe on the northeast coast received 43.54 inches of rainfall, while Mauna Kea volcano recorded wind gusts reaching 140 mph. Lower elevations experienced tropical storm-force winds of 30 to 40 mph with gusts up to 60 mph. Roughly 100 homes were swept from their foundations on the Big Island, and extensive damage affected the power transmission system, leaving nearly 104,000 utility customers without electricity.
State schools and offices closed statewide on Monday, with Big Island schools and county offices remaining closed Tuesday. Emergency services experienced temporary disruptions, though 911 service was restored by afternoon. Officials advised residents to avoid discolored ocean water and warned of potential landslides from soil saturation, though wind-related hazards diminished as the storm moved westward.
The storm was projected to strengthen back to hurricane status over open ocean by Wednesday. Federal officials pledged recovery assistance, with a U.S. Senator advocating for emergency funding approval to support debris removal and infrastructure repairs across affected areas.
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