Hurricane Lala threatens Hawaii Big Island with historic landfall

Hawaii's Big Island faces a potentially historic direct hit as Hurricane Lala bears down on the Pacific archipelago. The storm strengthened from a tropical system into a Category 1 hurricane, bringing fierce winds, heavy rain, and surging waves to the region.

Meteorologists and researchers noted that a direct hurricane landfall has not struck the Big Island in more than a century. Research by a University of Hawaii atmospheric scientist indicates that the last comparable system to hit the northeast corner of the Big Island was a Category 3 hurricane in 1871. AccuWeather Meteorologist Jesse Ferrell pointed out that while past storms such as Tropical Storms Darby and Iselle made landfall on the Big Island, a hurricane has never made landfall on the Big Island.

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As the system threatens the southern tip of the Big Island, authorities have enacted sweeping emergency measures. The Hawaii Department of Transportation closed Hilo International Airport and would close Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole at 2pm Saturday local time (Sunday, 10am AEST), alongside the Hawaii Island, Maui County, and Kaua‘i commercial ports. Whitecap surf slammed ashore nonstop, howling winds whipped the tops of palm trees, and waterways swelled with fast-moving runoff from relentless rain that blew nearly sideways.

Governor Josh Green urged residents to take immediate shelter as rainfall rates reached significant thresholds, stating that "people should be sheltering in place now". The governor also highlighted the compound threat of destructive flooding and potential wildfires whipped up by strong winds across the island chain. Vanessa Almanza, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Honolulu, stressed that it doesn't take landfall to create destruction while noting that dry and breezy conditions outside the storm would elevate fire concerns. In 2023 the Maui town of Lahaina burned during extreme winds as a hurricane passed far to the south.

The active eastern Pacific hurricane season is being driven by a strengthening El Niño pattern. Scientists note historical parallels to other El Niño years, such as 1992 when Hurricane Iniki made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane on Kauai. Steven Businger, a University of Hawaii scientist, recalled that Iniki did $3 billion worth of damage, destroyed thousands of homes, and did kill six people. Alex DaSilva, AccuWeather lead hurricane expert, also drew comparisons to Hurricane Hone, which passed about 50 miles south of the Big Island as a Category 1 hurricane and brought more than 2 feet of rain.

Impacts are already rippling across communities. Electricity was knocked out for nearly 20 per cent of customers on the Big Island, according to PowerOutage.us. Shelters were opened, events were cancelled and ranchers were urged to leave their cattle in pastures, rather than structures that might collapse.

Local residents have prepared for the worst. Bobby Camara, 75, a resident near Hilo, noted that I think stocking up is part of life over here … you learn to be self-reliant while stocking up on fuel and supplies. Mike Caputo, who lives in Keaau, near the Big Island's east coast, prepared his property by securing power generators, filling a home water tank, and trimming vulnerable albizia trees that could block roads if toppled by high winds.

Impact Summary and Forecast

• Big Island & Lower Elevations: Expected to receive heavy rainfall, with higher elevations dominated by the towering Mauna Kea volcano facing extreme totals that could trigger life-threatening mudslides in mountainous areas.
• Wind Hazards: Sustained winds and gusts threaten power grids, with structural impacts already reported by residents experiencing unexpected leaks and rattling homes.
• Warnings Statewide: The Big Island was under a hurricane warning, and tropical storm warnings were issued for the islands of Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe, Oahu, Kauai and Niihau.