Hurricane Lala made landfall in Hawaii on Saturday, causing significant power outages and dangerous flooding conditions for thousands of residents. More than 42,000 utility customers lost power across the islands, with the most substantial outages reported on the Big Island and in Maui County.
The National Hurricane Center issued warnings of "life-threatening" conditions, forecasting heavy rainfall that could lead to severe flooding and mudslides, particularly in mountainous areas. The Big Island was expected to receive between 10 to 20 inches of rain, with isolated amounts potentially reaching 25 inches. Eastern Maui was projected to see 8 to 12 inches, while western Maui anticipated 4 to 6 inches.
Hawaiian Electric advised customers to prepare for the possibility of extended power disruptions, potentially lasting overnight, as the storm moved westward. On the Big Island's Hamakua Coast, utility crews were working to assess damage after fallen trees caused multiple power line poles and structures to collapse. Earlier in the day, Lala was classified as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph.
The Maunakea Weather Center on the Big Island recorded wind gusts exceeding 100 mph in the early afternoon. In response to the severe weather, the Hawaii Department of Transportation announced closures for Hilo International Airport and Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole. Commercial ports on Hawaii Island, Maui County, and Kauaʻi were also closed.