Hurricane Lala hits Hawaii: one dead, homes swept away, 200,000 without power

Hurricane Lala, a Category 1 storm, skirted close to Hawaii’s Big Island on Saturday night without making direct landfall, yet unleashed catastrophic flooding that swept away homes, killed one person and knocked out power for more than 200,000 households.

Record rainfall and devastating floods

Despite not striking land directly, the storm’s eyewall passed within just 30 miles of South Point, the southernmost tip of Big Island, overnight. That proximity was enough to dump up to 35 inches (89 cm) of rainfall in some locations, sending torrents of water, debris and boulders racing down mountainsides into coastal communities.

The National Weather Service confirmed two homes had been swept away in the communities of Naalehu and Waiohinu. Mayor Kimo Alameda said the county’s civil defence agency had launched a search-and-rescue operation, describing the conditions as “challenging” due to rushing water, debris, boulders blocking roads and darkness. One person died in a car accident during the storm.

200,000 homes without power

More than 200,000 households were left without electricity across the islands. At its peak, Lala carried wind speeds of 91 mph before weakening to tropical storm strength with winds near 65 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center’s latest advisory. Tropical storm warnings remain in effect for all eight of Hawaii’s major islands.

“Lala is expected to produce additional rainfall of 4 to 8 inches across the Big Island and windward Maui,” the NHC warned, adding that storm totals could reach 30 to 35 inches. The storm was moving westward, south of the island chain. Authorities urged residents to remain cautious as conditions continue.