Hurricane Lala ravages Hawaii: 130,000 without power, homes swept away as floods rise

Nearly 130,000 utility customers across Hawaii were without electricity Sunday morning after Hurricane Lala swept close to the Big Island before weakening into a tropical storm, leaving behind flooded roads, damaged homes and dangerous travel conditions.

Power outage data recorded at 4:35 a.m. HST (1435 GMT) showed that the majority of outages were concentrated on the Big Island, Honolulu County and Maui County. The widespread disruptions came as heavy rain and powerful winds continued to batter parts of the state, complicating efforts to restore electricity and assess damage.

The storm did not make a direct landfall, but its close approach was enough to trigger major disruptions across the islands. Hawaii officials urged residents to remain indoors as forecasters warned that dangerous conditions could persist even after Lala lost hurricane status.

Hawaii under flood threat

The biggest concern for residents remained the extraordinary amount of rainfall expected across the Big Island and windward Maui.

The National Hurricane Center said early Sunday that another 4 to 8 inches (10 to 20 cm) of rain could fall in the hardest-hit areas. That additional rainfall threatened to push already swollen rivers and waterways higher and increase the risk of flash flooding.

Forecasters estimated that some locations could receive as much as 30 to 35 inches (76 to 89 cm) of rain in total from the time Lala began affecting Hawaii late Friday.

The scale of the rainfall has raised concerns about further flooding, road closures and damage to homes and infrastructure. Video released by the Hawaii Department of Transportation showed floodwaters covering roads, underscoring the difficult conditions facing emergency crews and residents.

One person was reported dead in a car-related incident, while the National Weather Service said two homes had been swept away.

Hawaiian electric sound warning

The storm also created a major challenge for Hawaii's power infrastructure.

Hawaiian Electric warned customers Saturday evening that repair crews were facing significant obstacles because of hurricane-force winds, intense rainfall, flooded roads and trees brought down by the storm.

With roads blocked or submerged in places, crews could not immediately reach every damaged section of the electricity network. The large number of outages also meant restoration work was likely to be complicated by the continuing weather threat.

For residents without power, the situation was made more difficult by the possibility of additional heavy rain and strong winds overnight.

Residents fear rising water

The flooding has caused growing anxiety among people living in vulnerable areas.

Big Island resident Cynthia Totty-Hefley described feeling uneasy as water levels rose Saturday. Her biggest concern was not simply flooding on roads but the possibility that seawater could reach her home.

“I have a little anxiety,” Totty-Hefley told local television station KITV, expressing particular concern about the ocean coming into her house.

Her comments reflected the uncertainty faced by residents as rainfall continued and officials warned that conditions could deteriorate further.

Hawaii Governor Josh Green had urged residents to shelter in place as the storm approached, warning islanders to take the threat seriously despite Lala's expected weakening.

Dangerous conditions remain

Lala was downgraded from a hurricane to a tropical storm after moving close to Hawaii. However, the storm remained powerful enough to pose a serious threat.

Its maximum sustained winds reached 75 mph (120 km/h) on Saturday, making Lala a Category 1 hurricane at its peak. By Sunday, winds had eased to around 70 mph (112 km/h), just below the threshold required for hurricane classification.

Despite the downgrade, the National Hurricane Center continued to warn of “life-threatening” conditions.

The weakening of a tropical system does not necessarily mean the immediate danger has passed. In Lala's case, the greatest risks shifted increasingly toward torrential rainfall, flash flooding, mudslides, dangerous roads and damage caused by strong winds.

Hawaii airports face disruptions

The storm also disrupted air travel across the islands.

The Hawaii Department of Transportation said Hilo International Airport and Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport were closed Saturday as Lala moved through the region. Both airports were expected to reopen Sunday, although weather conditions could affect the timing.

Travelers were advised to contact their airlines directly and check for the latest updates before heading to the airports.

With flooding affecting roads and weather conditions changing rapidly, authorities urged people to avoid unnecessary travel and remain alert to emergency instructions.

Hawaii braces for more rain

Although Lala has weakened from a hurricane, Hawaii's immediate challenge is far from over. Additional rainfall could worsen flooding in areas already saturated by days of intense precipitation, while damaged roads and downed trees could slow emergency response and power restoration.

Nearly 130,000 customers without electricity, widespread flooding and reports of homes being swept away have highlighted the severity of the storm's impact.

For communities on the Big Island and Maui in particular, the next several hours could prove critical as forecasters monitor rainfall totals and officials assess the damage. Residents have been urged to stay sheltered, avoid flooded roads and follow guidance from local authorities as Hawaii continues to deal with the aftermath of Hurricane Lala.

(With Reuters inputs)