Hurricane Lala reached Category 1 status on Saturday with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph as it moved toward Hawaii’s Big Island on a path that could produce a rare direct landfall. The National Hurricane Center forecast the hurricane’s eyewall to move over or near the island’s southern end by Saturday evening, with the most intense impacts expected on elevated volcanic terrain.
Higher elevations on the Big Island could receive up to 25 inches of rainfall, creating risks for life-threatening mudslides particularly in areas where residents live in improvised structures off the electrical grid. The forecast also warned of destructive surf conditions and dangerous rip currents throughout the islands. Tropical storm force winds extended outward 220 miles and were expected to impact Oahu and Kauai by Sunday morning, with tropical storm warnings issued for multiple islands in the chain.
The Big Island has not experienced a direct hurricane landfall in 155 years, though historical records indicate a Category 3 hurricane struck the northeast corner in 1871. State officials opened shelters, canceled events, and urged residents to relocate to safer locations. Officials noted that significant destruction could occur even without a direct hit, particularly from fallen trees and flooding caused by the expansive storm system.
Ranchers were advised to leave cattle in pastures rather than structures vulnerable to collapse, while residents in vulnerable housing were urged to seek shelter with family or friends. The forecast predicted 8 to 12 inches of rainfall across lower elevations of the Big Island and Maui, with 4 to 6 inches expected across the broader island chain. The storm’s arrival comes as many communities continue recovering from severe flooding that occurred earlier in the year, intensifying concerns about additional damage to agricultural operations and homes.
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