Hurricane Lala set its sights on Hawaii’s Big Island on Saturday, heading towards a potential landfall, marking the island’s first direct encounter with a hurricane in 155 years.
The National Hurricane Center reported that Lala’s maximum sustained winds had strengthened to 120 km/h, classifying it as a Category 1 hurricane. The eyewall was projected to pass over or near the island’s southern tip by the evening, bringing its most severe winds to the volcanic slopes thousands of feet above sea level.
Meteorologists indicated that elevated areas on the island, predominantly around the towering Mauna Kea volcano, could receive up to 63.5 centimeters of rainfall, posing a significant risk of life-threatening mudslides in regions where residents inhabit makeshift dwellings off the grid. Authorities urgently advised these individuals to seek secure shelter without delay.
Bobby Camara, a 75-year-old lifelong Big Island resident, expressed his intention to “brace for impact, hope for the best, and pray the power stays on” at a care facility just outside Hilo. He noted a surge in activity at gas stations as people stocked up on fuel for chainsaws and vehicles.
Governor Josh Green of Hawaii characterized the approaching storm as “massive,” cautioning about potential destructive flooding and the likelihood of wildfires sparked by strong winds sweeping across the entire island chain. A reported 10% of customers on the Big Island experienced power outages, as per poweroutage.us.
In Keaau, near the island’s eastern coast, resident Mike Caputo highlighted flash flooding and fallen trees, particularly the albizia tree, known for its large but fragile nature. As a local fire captain, Caputo emphasized the importance of tree maintenance to prevent road blockages.
The Big Island was under a hurricane warning, while tropical storm warnings were issued for multiple other Hawaiian islands. Historical data from a University of Hawaii atmospheric scientist revealed that a Category 3 hurricane had struck the Big Island’s northeast corner in 1871. Vanessa Almanza, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Honolulu, anticipated Lala to make landfall very close to the island’s southern tip.
Emergency shelters were opened, events were canceled, and ranchers were advised to keep their cattle in open pastures instead of structures vulnerable to collapse. Almanza stressed that even without a direct hit, significant damage could still occur.
The weather center forecasted total rainfall amounts ranging from 20.3 to 30.5 centimeters across Maui and lower elevations of the Big Island, with 10.2 to 15.2 centimeters expected across the entire island chain.
State Representative Jeanné Kapela urged residents to take the storm seriously, especially in the remote and rural southern region of the island, which has seen an increase in population due to affordability. Concerns were raised for those living off-grid and in vulnerable housing conditions.
Many residents in Hawaii are still recovering from the devastating floods earlier in the year, with growers anxious about further agricultural damage, according to Brian Miyamoto, director of the Hawaii Farm Bureau.
As winds intensified across the islands, meteorologist Almanza warned of heightened wildfire risks due to dry and breezy conditions outside the storm’s immediate impact. The town of Lahaina on Maui experienced a significant fire during extreme winds in 2023, prompting increased awareness of weather-related hazards.
Reflecting on past disasters, including Hurricane Iniki’s Category 4 landfall on Kauai in 1992 during an El Niño year, experts emphasized the unpredictable nature of storms and the need for vigilant preparation and response measures.