Tropical Storm Hala continues to bring drenching rain and high winds across the Hawaiian islands, days after weakening from a hurricane. While its eyewall skirted the state without making direct landfall, the storm has caused significant disruptions, including widespread power outages and dangerous flash flooding.
Authorities have launched a search-and-rescue mission after flash floods reportedly swept several occupied homes off their foundations in the coastal communities of Na’alehu and Wai’ohinu on the Big Island. "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," Hawaii County Mayor Kimo Alameda said.
At least one fatality has been reported, a person who died in a vehicle wreck in the South Point area of the Big Island, according to Gov. Josh Green. Honolulu has been particularly affected, with dozens of weather-related responses by Sunday morning, including numerous downed trees, damaged roofs, and downed power lines.
Much of the state remains under a flash flood warning, though the Big Island has been downgraded to a flood advisory. Meteorologists warn of heavy rain, mudslides, downed trees, and downed power lines as the primary threats. "Basically, the best thing to do right now is just stay home for a bit longer," said weather service meteorologist Stephen Parker. "The storm won’t last forever and once those kind of threats get cleaned up, it will be safe to be out and about again."
More than 200,000 homes and businesses were without power by Sunday morning, with at least three hospitals operating on generator power. Powerful waves have been pounding the Big Island’s coast as Hala slowly moves west-northwest.
Tropical storm warnings were in effect for Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe, Oahu, Kauai, and Niihau. The heaviest rain has been falling on Lanai, Moloka’i, and Oahu, while gusts exceeding 100 mph have been recorded on the Mauna Kea volcano on the Big Island.
As of Sunday morning, Hala was centered about 140 miles west of Honolulu with sustained winds of 65 mph. Forecasters expect little change in storm intensity through Monday, with a possibility of Hala regaining hurricane strength by Tuesday or Wednesday well west of the islands.
Some areas on the Big Island have received as much as 35 inches of rain, potentially destabilizing steep slopes where some residents live off the grid. In preparation for the storm, shelters were opened, events canceled, and ranchers advised to secure their livestock.
The Punalu’u Bake Shop, a popular tourist spot and local employer on the Big Island, sustained severe damage. "This is a different level of damage, it’s literally catastrophic," said Zachary Kennedy, the bakery's manager, describing water inundating their facilities and leaving behind mud.
Residents on Oahu's North Shore, like Kate McLellan, experienced power outages and remained vigilant, monitoring the storm's progress. Communities in this area were still recovering from back-to-back storms in March and April that brought prolonged periods of heavy rain and high winds, fueling anxieties about Hala's impact. McLellan noted that state preparations and communication appeared improved compared to previous events, observing crews trimming trees and clearing stream channels prior to the storm's arrival.