Hurricane Lala set its sights on Hawaii’s Big Island on Saturday, heading towards a potential landfall, marking the first direct hit by a hurricane in 155 years on the island.
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 most intense winds to the volcanic slopes that rise thousands of feet above sea level.
Meteorologists warned that the higher elevations on the island, primarily dominated by the towering Mauna Kea volcano, could experience up to 63.5 centimeters of rainfall. This heavy precipitation could trigger life-threatening mudslides in the mountainous regions where residents live in makeshift housing off the grid, prompting authorities to advise quick relocation to safer shelters.
Bobby Camara, a 75-year-old long-time Big Island resident, shared his plans to “hunker down, hope for the best, and pray the power stays on” at a care home near Hilo. He mentioned the increased activity at gas stations as people prepared by stocking up on fuel for chainsaws and vehicles, emphasizing the self-reliant nature of life in the area.
Hawaii Governor Josh Green characterized the approaching storm as “enormous,” cautioning about the potential for severe flooding and the risk of wildfires sparked by strong winds across the island chain. A significant portion of customers on the Big Island experienced power outages, according to data from poweroutage.us.
Mike Caputo, residing in Keaau close to the island’s east coast, highlighted concerns about flash floods and fallen trees, particularly the vulnerable albizia trees known for their size and instability. As a local fire captain, Caputo took preventative measures by trimming his trees in anticipation of the storm’s impact.
The Big Island was placed under a hurricane warning, and tropical storm warnings were issued for several other islands in the region. The latest forecasts pinpointed Lala’s potential landfall very near the southern tip of the Big Island, as indicated by Vanessa Almanza, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Honolulu.
Shelters were activated, events were canceled, and ranchers were advised to keep their cattle in pastures rather than structures that could collapse under the storm’s force. Almanza emphasized that even without a direct landfall, the storm could cause significant damage.
Weather experts predicted total rainfall amounts ranging from 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 urged residents to remain vigilant, especially in the remote and rural southern region of the island, known for its agriculture, including coffee and cattle farming. She stressed the importance of seeking safe shelter and support from family or friends if their homes were not sturdy enough to withstand the hurricane’s force.
Many locals were still recovering from the devastating floods in March, with concerns about additional damage to agriculture, as highlighted by Hawaii Farm Bureau director Brian Miyamoto.
As the winds intensified across the islands, Almanza warned of heightened wildfire risks due to dry and breezy conditions outside the storm’s core. The memory of a destructive fire in Maui town of Lahaina during extreme winds in 2023 served as a reminder of the potential dangers posed by severe weather conditions.
Reflecting on past disasters, residents like Archie Kalepa from Lahaina stressed the importance of environmental awareness and preparedness in the face of unpredictable weather events.
Kauai, positioned northwest of the Big Island, was remembered for Hurricane Iniki’s devastating impact in 1992, a Category 4 hurricane that resulted in significant damage and loss of life. The parallels drawn between the past and present highlighted the unpredictable nature of storms and the importance of remaining vigilant during hurricane season.