Hurricane Lala Damages Homes, Cuts Power to Thousands in Hawaii

Hurricane Lala left a trail of destruction across Hawaii over the weekend, damaging homes, destroying transportation links, and leaving hundreds of thousands of residents without electricity.

Dramatic videos show floodwaters washing over roads, tearing through infrastructure, and cutting off communities after days of torrential rain and hurricane-force winds. The storm weakened to a tropical storm on Sunday as it moved west away from the islands. The heaviest rainfall from Lala was recorded at Laupāhoehoe on Hawaii Island's northern coast, where 42.69 inches fell between Friday and Sunday.

More than 31 inches of that total came within 24 hours. Nahuku recorded over 35 inches of rainfall, while Hilo International Airport received nearly 10 inches. This deluge contributed to severe flooding, mudslides, and fast-moving torrents that overwhelmed roads and streams in parts of Hawaii Island. Governor Josh Green stated at least 100 homes were damaged or destroyed during the storm.

State officials reported infrastructure damage across multiple islands. The Hawaii Department of Transportation released videos showing floodwaters overtaking roadways, and emergency officials reported extensive washouts in hard-hit areas. Local reporting from Maui Now indicated several occupied homes were inundated by floodwaters on Hawaii Island, prompting search-and-rescue operations involving local agencies, the National Guard, and the Coast Guard.

Power outages remained a consequence, with more than 180,000 households without power across Hawaii on Sunday afternoon. This number had dropped from over 220,000 to about 130,000 by Sunday morning. Outages were particularly noted in Oahu, the most populated island. Hawaiian Electric warned on Saturday evening that repair efforts were hampered by hurricane-force winds and flooded roadways.

State officials urged residents to stay indoors after at least one person was reported dead in a car-related accident. Two homes were swept away, according to the National Weather Service. About 117 people were in shelters as of Sunday morning.