Hurricane Lala approached Hawaii’s Big Island on Saturday, heading towards a potential landfall, which would mark the first direct hurricane hit on the island in 155 years. The National Hurricane Center reported that Lala’s maximum sustained winds had reached 120 km/h, categorizing it as a Category 1 hurricane. The eyewall was projected to pass over or near the island’s southern tip by evening, bringing its strongest winds to the volcanic slopes thousands of feet above sea level.
Meteorologists warned that higher elevations on the island, particularly around the towering Mauna Kea volcano, could receive up to 63.5 centimeters of rainfall, posing a significant risk of life-threatening mudslides in areas where residents live in makeshift homes off the grid. Authorities advised residents to seek safe shelter promptly.
Local resident Bobby Camara, 75, shared his plans to brace for the storm at a care facility near Hilo, expressing concerns about potential power outages. Gas stations were bustling with activity as people stocked up on fuel for chainsaws and vehicles in preparation for the storm.
Governor Josh Green described the approaching hurricane as a “massive storm” and cautioned about the potential for severe flooding and wildfires sparked by strong winds across the island chain. Power outages affected approximately 10% of customers on the Big Island, according to poweroutage.us.
Residents like Mike Caputo in Keaau, near the east coast of the island, were primarily concerned about flash floods and fallen trees, particularly the albizia trees known for their large size and susceptibility to causing road blockages. Caputo, a local fire captain, ensured his trees were trimmed in anticipation of the storm.
The Big Island was under a hurricane warning, with tropical storm warnings issued for several other Hawaiian islands. The most recent forecast indicated that Lala was expected to make landfall very close to the southern edge of the Big Island, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Vanessa Almanza in Honolulu.
Shelters were opened, events were canceled, and ranchers were advised to leave their cattle in open pastures to avoid potential structural collapses. Almanza warned that even without a direct landfall, significant destruction could result from the storm.
Officials predicted total rainfall amounts of 20.3 to 30.5 centimeters across Maui and the lower elevations of the Big Island, with 10.2 to 15.2 centimeters expected across the entire island chain.
State Representative Jeanné Kapela emphasized the importance of staying vigilant, particularly for residents in remote and rural areas of the island, where agriculture plays a significant role. The population in these regions has been increasing due to affordability, raising concerns about those living off the grid.
Amid the storm’s approach, concerns were raised about the heightened risk of wildfires due to dry and breezy conditions outside the storm’s immediate impact. Memories of a devastating fire in Maui in 2023 during extreme winds served as a reminder of the potential dangers.
Reflecting on past hurricanes, such as Hurricane Iniki in 1992 that struck Kauai, atmospheric scientists highlighted the unpredictability of storms and the need for preparedness in vulnerable regions. The impact of past storms, like Iniki, served as a stark reminder of the destructive potential of hurricanes, underscoring the importance of taking the current storm seriously.