Hurricane Lala Hits Hawaii: 1 Fatal Event and Massive Power Outages Reported

Hurricane Lala left at least one person dead and more than 100,000 without power in Hawaii after bringing strong winds, heavy rain, and flooding to the islands. Although the storm weakened to a tropical storm, crews continue to assess damage and restore electricity. Here’s what we know about the storm’s impact and Hawaii’s recovery efforts so far. 

Hurricane Lala caused widespread damage across Hawaii

Hurricane Lala Leaves One Dead in Hawaii

A 90-year-old woman was found dead in Naalehu on Hawaii’s Big Island after she was reported missing during the storm, marking the first death linked to Hurricane Lala’s passage through the state.

Authorities had been searching for the woman before she was found, although officials have not provided further details about the circumstances of her death. 

The fatality adds a tragic human toll to a storm that brought dangerous conditions across parts of Hawaii over the weekend.

The death was reported as Lala weakened from a hurricane to a tropical storm, with officials continuing to assess the storm’s effects across affected communities. 

Further details about the circumstances surrounding the death may emerge as recovery operations continue.

Hurricane Lala left one dead in Naalehu on Hawaii’s Big Island

More Than 100,000 Remain Without Power

More than 104,000 Hawaiian Electric customers were still without electricity as of Monday afternoon, underscoring the scale of the storm’s disruption across the islands. 

The utility said Lala’s strong winds brought down trees, utility poles and transmission towers, while the Big Island’s power transmission system sustained “extensive damage.”

The outages were particularly significant on the Big Island, where remote communities were already facing difficult access. 

Check the latest weather conditions in the Big Island!

Hawaiian Electric crews began working to restore service, but the damage to transmission infrastructure could make recovery slower in some areas.

The number of outages fluctuated as crews assessed damage and restored service. 

Reports put the peak at roughly 111,000 customers, while about 113,000 remained without power in another Monday morning assessment.

Hawaiian Electric crews work to restore power after Hurricane Lala

Source: Hawaiian Electric 

Read more: Power outage safety tips

Flooding and Strong Winds Cause Widespread Damage

Flooding and powerful winds caused severe damage on Hawaii’s Big Island. 

More than 100 homes were damaged or destroyed, while six bridges in the southern Kaʻū District were damaged or washed out. 

The storm also brought intense rainfall to parts of the island. 

Some areas received more than 3.5 feet of rain, overwhelming roads and drainage systems and triggering flash flooding. 

In Pāhala, floodwaters and debris disrupted access to the community before roads were reopened as recovery crews moved in.

If you're in Pāhala, check the latest local weather forecast before traveling, especially as flooding and road conditions remain a concern. 

Wind damage extended beyond the Big Island. 

On Maui, fallen trees damaged homes and businesses, while flooded roads and debris complicated access for emergency and repair crews. 

Officials said the damage was widespread but appeared less severe overall than initially feared.

A flood-damaged bridge in Pāhala, Hawaii

Lala Weakened After Reaching Hurricane Strength

Lala briefly reached Category 1 hurricane status on Saturday, August 15, with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h), according to the National Hurricane Center. 

The storm maintained hurricane strength as it passed near Hawaii’s Big Island but did not make landfall.

By early Sunday, Lala had weakened to a tropical storm, with sustained winds falling to 70 mph. 

The hurricane warning for Hawaii County was subsequently replaced with a tropical storm warning.

Despite the downgrade, forecasters warned that damaging winds and heavy rain would continue as Lala moved westward away from the islands. 

The storm’s weakening therefore did not immediately end the hazardous conditions across Hawaii.

Hurricane Lala has weakened and headed West

Source: NBC News

Read more: What to Do After a Hurricane?

Hawaii Begins Recovery After Hurricane Lala

Recovery efforts were underway across Hawaii as Lala moved farther west, with crews clearing debris, assessing infrastructure and restoring essential services. 

On Monday, Aug. 17, all public schools, state courts and state and county government offices were closed to support emergency response and cleanup operations.

On the Big Island, officials conducted aerial and ground assessments in some of the hardest-hit communities, including Nāʻālehu and the Kaʻū District. 

Crews also worked to clear mud, rocks and other debris from roads, helping reconnect areas that had been isolated by flooding and storm damage.

Hawaiian Electric continued restoration work while emergency crews addressed damaged roads and other infrastructure. 

As of Aug. 18, about 26,900 Big Island customers remained without power, showing that recovery was still ongoing even after Lala moved away from the main islands.

Despite the destruction, Gov. Josh Green said the overall impact was not as severe as initially feared. 

“And in spite of this loss of one beautiful person,” Green said, “it could have been a lot worse.”

Hawaii officials and federal authorities are now turning their attention to cleanup, infrastructure repairs, and additional recovery support as communities work to return to normal.

Crews clear mud and debris from roads in Hawaii as recovery efforts continue

References

1. NBC News

2. AP News

3. CNN

4. Syracuse.com