A hurricane warning is officially in effect for Hawaii’s Big Island as Tropical Storm Lala approaches the archipelago. Forecasters warn the system is expected to intensify, bringing extremely heavy rainfall, potential flooding, and life-threatening surf and rip currents to the Hawaiian Islands throughout the weekend.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) confirmed on Friday that hurricane-force conditions are anticipated to impact Hawaii by Saturday local time. According to the latest projections, the core of Lala will pass near the Big Island on Saturday before tracking south of the smaller islands on Sunday. While some weakening is expected as the storm interacts with the Big Island’s terrain, the threat remains severe.
Damaging, hurricane-force winds are projected for the Big Island, particularly across higher elevations, while tropical-storm-force winds are expected to buffet portions of the smaller Hawaiian islands. The combination of heavy rain and steep terrain creates a high risk for flash flooding and mudslides, which the NHC has explicitly warned could be life-threatening.
Hawaii Governor Josh Green addressed the state in a briefing Friday night, stating, “This is a very serious storm.” He emphasized the rarity of such events, noting, “We have not had a hurricane make landfall in quite some time. So none of us really have experienced this really in, you know, the last couple of decades.”
Governor Green warned that the state should prepare for “an incredible amount of water,” highlighting the high probability of major power outages and significant flooding. Regarding the storm’s track, Green added, “We’re hoping that it’s going to be sufficiently far south that we just get the periphery of the storm, but, no promises, we’ve seen storms turn.”
The historical context remains a point of concern for officials. The last hurricane to make landfall in Hawaii was Hurricane Iniki in 1992, a Category 4 storm that resulted in six deaths and approximately $3 billion in damages. To bolster emergency readiness, Governor Green signed an emergency proclamation activating disaster relief funds and directing state agencies to cooperate fully in response efforts.
The state has mobilized the National Guard to support emergency operations, and the Hawaii Department of Education has canceled all school-sponsored extracurricular activities for the weekend. Furthermore, the NHC projects that Lala could produce a storm surge of up to 3 feet along the coast, exacerbating the danger posed by large waves and rip currents.
Rainfall projections are particularly alarming. Forecasters expect totals of 8 to 12 inches across Maui and the Big Island, with maximum totals reaching 25 inches on the Big Island. Other areas, including Oahu and Kauai, are expected to see 4 to 6 inches, with localized maximums of 8 inches. These conditions have prompted a tropical storm warning for Maui County, Oahu, and Kauai County.
Hawaii County Mayor Kimo Alameda expressed the gravity of the situation to, stating, “We’re not exempt from these extreme weather conditions. So we’ve been here before, and messages have already gone out. But this could look like a big one.” Alameda noted that residents must remain vigilant, as threats vary by location, ranging from high surf near the shoreline to high winds and flooding in inland areas.
As of Saturday morning, Lala was located approximately 140 miles southeast of South Point on the Big Island and 350 miles southeast of Honolulu. Moving west-northwest at 13 mph, the storm carried maximum sustained winds of 65 mph. With the threshold for a hurricane set at 74 mph, the system remains on the cusp of intensification as it approaches the islands.
In a worst-case scenario, Lala could dump 25 inches of rain onto the Big Island, forecasters at the National Hurricane Center said.
And now we’re just bracing ourselves, preparing,” he said.
A tropical storm becomes a hurricane when its maximum sustained winds reach 74 mph.
Large, dangerous surf also brings the potential for coastal flooding and significant beach erosion.
So they’re aware and messages went out.
The Miami-based hurricane center warned that wind speeds could be significantly higher in elevated areas and on the windward sides of slopes and mountains.
The Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources has been working to clear streams and other potential flood zones.
The National Park Service announced that most areas of Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island would close to visitors by Friday afternoon ahead of the storm’s arrival.
It has not been decided if schools will open on Monday.
