Tropical Storm Lala is moving westward away from the Hawaiian Islands after impacting the Big Island with hurricane-force gusts and heavy rain. While the storm is expected to regain hurricane strength midweek, lingering flash flood risks and downed power lines continue to affect recovery efforts across the state.
Storm Trajectory and Current Status
As of 5 p.m. on Sunday, Tropical Storm Lala was positioned approximately 240 miles west of Honolulu and 170 miles west-southwest of Lihue. The Central Pacific Hurricane Center reports the storm is maintaining maximum sustained winds near 65 mph, traveling westward at roughly 16 mph. While the storm is moving away from the main Hawaiian Islands, outer bands continue to bring gusty winds and heavy rainfall to the region.
Forecasters anticipate the system will maintain its current intensity for the next day or two before initiating a turn toward the west-northwest on Wednesday. Beyond that, the storm is projected to strengthen, potentially regaining hurricane status once it is positioned well west of the island chain.
Impacts Across the Big Island and Beyond
The storm caused significant damage across the state, particularly on the Big Island, where hurricane-force gusts persisted even after the system weakened to a tropical storm.
More than 130,000 households across the three largest islands were left without power Sunday morning, and at least three hospitals were forced to rely on backup generators.
Search-and-rescue operations were initiated in the coastal communities of Na’alehu and Wai’ohinu after reports suggested that flash floods had swept several homes off their foundations. Across the islands, residents faced significant challenges from local vegetation; fire captain Mike Caputo noted that albizia trees often complicate recovery efforts, explaining that they’re not very sturdy, but they grow extremely large,
and they can make roads impassable.
Ongoing Hazards and Safety Precautions
Although the most severe weather has begun to taper off, dangerous conditions persist. The National Weather Service has warned that flooding and mudslides remain possible, particularly in high-terrain areas. Officials advise residents to remain cautious, specifically regarding the use of generators.
Bobby Camara, a 75-year-old lifelong resident, captured the sentiment of many preparing for the storm, stating his plan was to hunker down, cross my fingers, hope the lights don’t go out.
He added, I think stocking up is part of life over here. …
You learn to be self-reliant.
As recovery begins, authorities are tracking the potential for continued hazardous conditions, including large ocean waves that will affect exposed shores before gradually decreasing throughout Monday. Residents in flood-prone areas are encouraged to monitor local warnings, as the saturated ground remains susceptible to further instability.
