Hurricane Lala, a Category‑1 storm that brushed the Big Island’s coast on 14 August, poured up to 35 inches of rain over Naalehu and Waiohinu, flooding wide valleys and scouring two homes from the ground. One person died in a car accident near the melted‑soil corridors, and rescue teams are still combing the submerged streets for survivors.
Power outages hit roughly 219,000 residents, leaving hospitals and emergency services on backup generators while 180 National Guard members assist in search and rescue operations. Airport closures at Hilo and Kona temporarily grounded flights, and the governor’s office confirmed at least 190 flight cancellations.
Despite no landfall, winds peaked at 91 mph when Lala gained hurricane strength; currently, the storm is moving west of Hawaii as a tropical storm, still counselling the chain for 4 to 8 inches of rain on the Big Island and 4 to 6 on other islands.
Officials urge residents to remain alert, as debris, boulders and lightning fast floods pose continuous danger. Heavy rainfall combined with elevated sea temperatures from an El Niño intensifies the broader Pacific threat of stronger storms.
Images from the front lines show flooded streets, emergency responders, and a graphic that explains the Saffir‑Simpson scale for hurricanes.
