On August 16, 2026, Hurricane Lala weakened into a tropical storm after narrowly missing Hawaii without making direct landfall. Despite this, the storm unleashed hurricane-force gusts on the Big Island. The higher windward slopes braced for almost 3 feet of rain, threatening to turn rivers into torrents and causing potential mudslides.
Tropical storm conditions moved west from Maui towards Oahu and then Kauai. The National Hurricane Center cautioned that wind speeds on mountain tops and slopes are about 30% stronger than those closer to the ground, influencing how storms are categorized.
Affected by the storm, the Big Island experienced powerful waves pounding its coast. Winds fiercely whipped palm trees, and waterways swelled due to fast-moving runoff from relentless, sideways rain.
More than 130,000 households faced power outages across Hawaii’s three largest islands, according to poweroutage.us. Governor Josh Green confirmed that at least three hospitals relied on generator power during these outages. Tragically, in the South Point area of the Big Island, a car accident claimed one life, and “enormous storm” conditions resulted in the destruction of 19 roofs.
“There have been a lot of roads impacted, our crews have already been out to more than 30 sites,” remarked the governor.
A search-and-rescue effort was launched with Civil Defense, the National Guard, and the Coast Guard after flash floods swept several homes from their foundations in Na’alehu and Wai’ohinu, near the island’s southern end.
“What makes this very challenging is that there’s rushing water, there’s debris, and there’s boulders on the road, and it’s dark,” stated Mayor Kimo Alameda of Hawaii County.
Tropical Storm Warnings and Forecast
The islands of Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe, Oahu, Kauai, and Niihau remained under tropical storm warnings. The threat of destructive flooding and wind-induced wildfires loomed as the storm tracked westward.
Early Sunday, Lala was centered about 105 miles west-northwest of Kailua-Kona and roughly 100 miles south of Honolulu, spreading tropical-storm-force winds up to 175 miles from its center. Lala maintained winds of 70 mph and moved northwest at approximately 15 mph. Forecasters anticipated Lala could regain hurricane strength midweek once fully past the island chain.
Some higher-altitude areas, particularly those near Mauna Kea, expected up to 35 inches of rain. The steep slopes threatened by the rain are home to residents living off the grid in makeshift housing.
Residents Brace for Impact
In preparation, shelters were opened, events canceled, and ranchers advised to keep cattle in pastures to avoid collapsing structures. Many residents, still recovering from severe floods in March, were taking necessary precautions.
Bobby Camara, a 75-year-old resident, planned to “hunker down” at a care facility near Hilo, hoping the power wouldn’t fail. Gas stations saw increased activity as people secured fuel for chainsaws and vehicles.
“I think stocking up is part of life over here. You learn to be self-reliant,” said Camara.
Mike Caputo, residing in Keaau near the Big Island’s east coast, prepared his generator and filled his home water tank. Caputo’s main concerns included flash floods and falling trees like albizias.
“They’re not very sturdy, but they grow extremely large. They can make roads impassable,” said Caputo, a local fire captain.
Enduring Powerful Winds
Christine Matsuda, living in Waimea on the island’s northern side, reported gusts rattling her house.
“We’re finding unexpected leaks in places that don’t see water under normal conditions,” Matsuda shared.
The hurricane center projected total rainfall of 8 to 12 inches across Maui and the lower elevations of the Big Island, with 4 to 6 inches expected throughout the island chain.
Leave a Reply