Hurricane Lala set its sights on Hawaii’s Big Island over the weekend, potentially marking the first direct hurricane hit on the island in over 155 years. The National Hurricane Center reported that Lala’s sustained winds had intensified to 120 km/h, classifying it as a Category 1 hurricane. The eyewall was projected to pass over or near the island’s southern tip by evening, bringing its most severe winds to the volcanic slopes thousands of feet above sea level.
Weather experts warned that the island’s higher elevations, particularly around the towering Mauna Kea volcano, could receive up to 63.5 centimeters of rainfall, raising the risk of life-threatening mudslides in areas where residents live in makeshift accommodations off the grid. Local authorities advised these residents to seek safe shelter promptly.
Residents like 75-year-old Bobby Camara, a lifelong inhabitant of the Big Island, expressed readiness to weather the storm, anticipating potential power outages at a care facility just outside Hilo. Camara noted the increased activity at gas stations as individuals prepared by stocking up on fuel for chainsaws and vehicles.
Governor Josh Green of Hawaii emphasized the severity of the approaching storm, highlighting the looming threats of destructive flooding and the possibility of wildfires sparked by strong winds across the island chain. A significant portion of customers on the Big Island experienced power outages, as reported by poweroutage.us.
Mike Caputo, a Keaau resident near the island’s east coast, voiced concerns about flash flooding and fallen trees, particularly the vulnerable albizia trees that are common in the area. Caputo, a local fire captain, emphasized the importance of trimming trees to prevent road blockages.
As the Big Island remained under a hurricane warning, tropical storm warnings were issued for several other Hawaiian islands. Historical data indicated that a Category 3 hurricane had struck the northeast corner of the Big Island in 1871. The latest forecasts suggested that Lala would make landfall very close to the island’s southern tip, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Vanessa Almanza in Honolulu.
Precautionary measures were put in place, including the opening of shelters, cancellation of events, and advisories for ranchers to leave cattle in pastures to avoid structural collapse risks. Almanza cautioned that even without a direct landfall, the storm could cause significant destruction.
In terms of rainfall projections, the hurricane center anticipated 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.
Officials stressed the importance of taking the storm seriously, with State Rep. Jeanné Kapela urging residents to stay vigilant, especially in the remote and rural southern end of the island. Concerns were raised for those living off the grid and in dwellings vulnerable to hurricane-force winds.
The potential for wildfires was heightened by dry and breezy conditions outside the storm, as highlighted by meteorologist Almanza. Memories of the destructive 2023 fire in Lahaina served as a reminder of the risks posed by extreme winds during hurricanes.
Looking back at past devastation, the impact of Hurricane Iniki in 1992 on Kauai, during an El Niño year similar to the current one, underscored the unpredictable nature of storms. The damage caused by Iniki, a Category 4 hurricane, serves as a sobering reminder of the destructive power of such natural disasters.