By Ginika Igboke
Tropical Storm Lala weakened from hurricane strength Sunday after passing Hawaii without making landfall, but the storm continued to batter the islands with powerful winds, torrential rain and dangerous flooding.
The storm caused significant damage across the state, including on the Big Island, where officials said roughly 100 homes were swept from their foundations. Despite the destruction, Gov. Josh Green said there were no immediate reports of deaths connected to the homes that were washed away.
Earlier Sunday, authorities launched a search-and-rescue operation in the coastal communities of Na’alehu and Wai’ohinu near the southern tip of the Big Island after homes were destroyed by the storm.
Green said crews were working to determine whether anyone had been trapped or otherwise affected by the destruction.
The governor spoke at a news conference as Lala continued moving through the island chain, bringing powerful wind gusts and periods of extremely heavy rain. Some locations received close to three feet of rain, creating a significant threat of flash flooding, landslides and additional structural damage.
Strong Winds Tear Through Communities
While the storm did not make landfall, its effects were felt across the Hawaiian Islands.
Cynthia Channels, a local organizer who works with unhoused residents and families in need, spent Sunday driving around Oahu in her pickup truck to assess storm damage and check on people in vulnerable situations.
She said the wind had been among the most destructive aspects of the storm.
“The winds are really bad, people’s shingles are falling off the roofs,” Channels said.
Strong winds damaged roofs, knocked down trees and power lines and made travel dangerous in several communities.
Green also said authorities were investigating a fatal vehicle crash that occurred Saturday in the South Point area of the Big Island. Officials had not determined whether the storm played a role in the crash.
Flooding and Power Outages Spread Across the Islands
Honolulu and other parts of Oahu experienced increasingly severe tropical storm conditions as Lala moved westward through the island chain.
By Sunday afternoon, the Honolulu Fire Department had responded to more than 600 weather-related calls. Those included 147 reports involving downed trees.
Officials also reported roofs being blown off buildings, power lines brought down and at least one swimmer requiring rescue.
Flooding remained a major concern, with much of Hawaii under flash flood warnings for portions of the day. The National Weather Service later downgraded the Big Island from a flash flood warning to a flood advisory as conditions changed.
Meteorologist Stephen Parker urged residents to remain indoors until the most dangerous conditions had passed and roads and other hazards could be assessed.
“Basically, the best thing to do right now is just stay home for a bit longer,” Parker said. “The storm won’t last forever and once those kind of threats get cleaned up, it will be safe to be out and about again.”
Hundreds of Thousands Lose Power
The storm also caused widespread power outages.
More than 200,000 homes and businesses across Hawaii were without electricity by midday Sunday, according to power outage tracking data. Nearly two-thirds of customers on the Big Island were reportedly without power.
The outages created additional challenges for communities already dealing with flooding, blocked roads and damaged infrastructure.
At least three hospitals were operating on generator power, according to Green. The governor said damage to roads and several smaller bridges had also made some areas difficult for emergency crews to reach.
Despite the widespread disruption, Green said there had been no indication of a large-scale loss of life.
“Everyone is safe and healthy,” Green said. “But boy, a lot of work ahead.”
The governor, who is a physician and previously worked in emergency departments at remote hospitals on the Big Island, said emergency crews and residents would have a substantial cleanup and recovery effort ahead once the storm moved away.
Big Island Hit by Powerful Waves and Heavy Rain
The Big Island experienced some of the most severe conditions associated with Lala.
Powerful waves battered coastal areas as the storm passed offshore. Although the center of the storm did not make landfall, the eyewall remained strong enough to produce powerful winds along the island’s mountainsides.
Rain bands moved across the region with such force that heavy rain was reported falling almost horizontally in some areas.
Higher elevations around Mauna Kea received extraordinary amounts of rainfall. Some locations recorded as much as 35 inches of rain, or nearly 3 feet, creating concerns about mudslides and unstable slopes.
Those conditions are particularly dangerous for residents living in remote areas, including people who live off the grid or in makeshift housing.
The storm arrived three years after Hawaii experienced one of the deadliest wildfires in more than a century, a disaster that devastated parts of Maui and left communities particularly sensitive to severe weather emergencies.
Tropical Storm Warnings Remain in Effect
Tropical storm warnings remained in effect Sunday for Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe, Oahu, Kauai and Niihau.
The warnings reflected continued concerns about destructive winds, heavy rain, dangerous surf and flooding as Lala moved away from the islands.
The heaviest rainfall Sunday was concentrated over Lanai, Molokai and Oahu, while some of the strongest wind gusts were recorded at higher elevations.
Wind gusts at Mauna Kea reached more than 100 mph.
As of 11 a.m. Hawaii time Sunday, Lala was centered approximately 140 miles west of Honolulu. The storm had maximum sustained winds of about 65 mph and was moving west-northwest at roughly 16 mph.
Forecasters said Lala was expected to remain relatively stable through Monday. However, meteorologists warned that the storm could regain hurricane strength Tuesday or Wednesday after moving farther west of the Hawaiian Islands.
That possibility kept officials and residents on alert even after the storm began weakening Sunday.
Communities Prepare for More Damage
In the days leading up to Lala’s arrival, Hawaii officials opened shelters, canceled public events and urged residents to prepare for dangerous conditions.
Ranchers were encouraged to leave cattle in open pastures rather than structures that could potentially collapse under strong winds or flooding.
The preparations came only months after Hawaii communities were hit by destructive flooding in March. The recent storms meant many residents were already dealing with damaged infrastructure and heightened concerns about severe weather.
For some residents, Lala brought back memories of those earlier storms.
Kate McLellan, who lives on Oahu’s North Shore, said she was still waiting for the worst of the storm after losing power Sunday morning. She remained focused on weather updates as conditions continued to change.
She said memories of storms earlier in the year had left residents especially anxious.
The repeated severe weather, she said, was “giving that same uncertainty and hesitation and panic and anxiety.”
Historic Bakery Suffers Major Damage
One of the businesses severely damaged by the storm was Punalu’u Bake Shop in Naalehu on the Big Island.
The bakery is a popular tourist destination and an important local employer, but stormwater poured into its factory and retail facilities.
Zachary Kennedy, the bakery’s manager, said roughly three feet of mud was left behind after water moved through the property.
“This is a different level of damage, it’s literally catastrophic,” Kennedy said.
The bakery will now have to assess the full extent of the destruction and determine what will be required to reopen.
The damage is another example of how the storm affected not only homes but also businesses that are important to local communities and Hawaii’s tourism economy.
Residents Find Strength in Community
Across the islands, residents continued helping neighbors and preparing for the recovery effort.
Nicole Clark, who lives on Kauai, was sheltering in place with her family after her children’s school was canceled for Monday because a tree had blocked a road.
Although the storm created uncertainty and disruption, Clark said she found reassurance in the way Hawaii residents have repeatedly come together during natural disasters.
For many residents, that sense of community has become an important source of strength during severe weather.
“It’s a good feeling during hard times,” Clark said.
As Lala moves farther away from Hawaii, officials are now turning their attention toward assessing damage, restoring power, clearing roads and checking isolated communities.
While the storm weakened Sunday, authorities warned that flooding, downed trees, damaged power lines and unstable terrain could remain dangerous even after the strongest winds subside.
Residents were urged to remain cautious, avoid flooded roads and allow emergency crews time to clear hazards before returning to areas affected by the storm.
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