Hurricane Lala swept through Hawaii, impacting Honolulu and Maui counties, causing widespread damage and leaving over 113,000 customers without power. The storm, which began on August 12 and has since been downgraded to a tropical storm, also resulted in significant damage to over 100 homes.
The dramatic surge of Rainbow Falls in Hilo, Hawaii, was captured in before-and-after footage shared on social media, showing the usually tranquil 80-foot waterfall roaring with water due to the torrential rain brought by Lala. The footage stunned internet users, with some recounting visits to the falls shortly before the storm.
Restoration of power may take days as transmission lines were downed, according to Hawaii County Mayor Kimo Alameda. One fatality was reported in a storm-related car crash. The storm is currently located about 315 miles west-southwest of Līʻhue with maximum sustained winds of 60 miles per hour, moving west at 12 miles per hour.
While all tropical storm warnings and flood watches have been canceled, Brown Water Advisories remain in effect statewide due to storm runoff carrying pollutants. Residents are urged to exercise extreme caution in damaged areas due to hazards such as dangerous debris, contamination risks, and electrical hazards. The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency recommends signing up for local emergency alerts at ready.hawaii.gov/alerts.
Governor Josh Green announced the closure of all state and county government offices and public schools. City crews were scheduled to work through Sunday night and Monday to assess damage, clear debris, address flooding, and reopen roadways. Normal government operations were anticipated to resume on Tuesday, August 18.