Hurricane Lala moved past Hawaiʻi Island on Saturday, leaving a wake of significant damage and isolating several communities. The storm, which passed within 35 miles of the island at hurricane strength, brought intense winds and heavy rainfall to the region.
Hawaiʻi County Mayor Kimo Alameda reported that the Kaʻū District sustained severe damage, including the destruction of six bridges. The community of Pāhala remains cut off from access, creating a difficult situation for the area’s only critical access hospital. Authorities are actively working to restore road connections to the town as quickly as possible.
Emergency crews are currently conducting search and rescue operations in Nāʻālehu and Waiʻōhinu, where flooding forced residents to call for assistance. One person was swept away by storm waters but has since been located and transported to a hospital with moderate injuries. While recovery efforts are underway, authorities report that over half of Hawaiian Electric customers on the island lost power, with some repairs potentially taking weeks to complete.
Officials are urging residents to report storm damage through official county channels to assist in ongoing recovery efforts. While no storm-related fatalities are currently confirmed, the impact on local infrastructure remains substantial. Community members in need of assistance can reach out through local support networks as the island begins the process of assessing the full extent of the damage.