Honolulu, Hawaii – Hawaii is beginning a difficult recovery after Hurricane Lala swept south of the islands over the weekend, unleashing torrential rainfall, destructive flooding and powerful winds that left communities cut off and thousands of residents without electricity.
At least one person has died in the storm’s aftermath. Hawaii Gov. Josh Green said Monday that authorities discovered the body of a 90-year-old woman who “perished in the flood.” She had been reported missing from a neighborhood on the southern portion of the Big Island, prompting a search involving multiple agencies, including the National Guard.
Hurricane Lala Moves Away as Hawaii Assesses Damage
Lala has since weakened into a tropical storm and moved westward over the open Pacific.
Its final bands of rain moved away from Kauai early Monday, allowing emergency officials to shift their focus from preparing for the storm to searching for survivors, assessing damage and restoring essential services.
Although hurricane-force winds knocked down trees and damaged roofs, officials said the most severe destruction came from floodwater, mud and rocks rushing through communities.
The Big Island’s mountainous areas received more than 3.5 feet of rain, while parts of Maui recorded up to 2 feet.
The extreme rainfall triggered widespread flash flooding and landslides, destroying roads and bridges and sweeping homes from their foundations.
More Than 100 Homes Damaged or Lost
The destruction across the Big Island has been extensive.
Gov. Green said more than 100 homes were damaged or lost on the island, while officials reported that floodwaters pushed at least two houses off their foundations in the Kaʻū area.
In one case, a home was reportedly carried several hundred yards from its original location. A woman who was attempting to reach her vehicle outside the home was also swept away by the floodwaters. She survived and was transported to a hospital with moderate injuries.
Another home was reportedly pushed partially off its foundation, although officials cautioned that investigators were still working to establish the exact circumstances.
Emergency Crews Caught in Dangerous Floodwaters
The flooding also created dangerous conditions for first responders.
An ambulance crew responding to an emergency became trapped when rising floodwater overtook the vehicle and pushed it against a guardrail.
The crew members escaped by climbing onto the roof of the ambulance before transferring to a National Guard high-water vehicle that had accompanied them.
Officials said the incident highlighted the extreme conditions emergency workers faced while attempting to reach residents in flooded communities.
Roads and Bridges Suffer Major Damage
The Big Island experienced what officials described as an unprecedented number of road closures and prolonged power outages.
Six bridges in the Kaʻū area were reportedly destroyed or nearly destroyed, with Hawaii County Mayor Kimo Alameda describing the damage as “devastation.”
Farther south, a powerful flow of water moved through the Naalehu area, washing away significant amounts of property and infrastructure.
Parts of Pāhala Highway collapsed, apparently because of a massive landslide. The damage cut off an important route to an area where one of the region’s few hospitals is located.
Officials said the highway wreckage created what appeared to be a new waterfall, while smaller bridges were also damaged. Many roads remained closed because of fallen trees, utility lines and landslides.
100,000 Still Without Power
The storm’s impact on Hawaii’s power infrastructure has also been significant. Around 100,000 homes and businesses remained without electricity Monday afternoon, according to PowerOutage.com.
Hurricane-force wind gusts affected Hawaii, Honolulu and Maui counties, while major transmission lines were damaged.
Officials warned that restoration could take days or longer in some areas because crews must repair major lines across the Big Island, Maui and Oahu.
Hawaiian Electric has been working to restore service while emergency crews continue dealing with blocked roads and damaged infrastructure.
Schools and Government Offices Remain Closed
The widespread damage forced state and county offices, schools, courts and judiciary offices to close Monday.
On the Big Island, government buildings and schools were expected to remain closed through at least Tuesday because of severe damage and continuing power outages.
Authorities are also warning residents about environmental hazards.
A statewide brown water advisory is in effect because contaminated stormwater could enter coastal waters and streams following the flooding.
Honolulu Also Reports Rescues and Roof Damage
The storm caused significant problems beyond the Big Island. In Honolulu County, emergency crews conducted approximately 160 ocean rescues between Friday and Saturday evening.
EMS workers also treated three people who reportedly fell from or through roofs while attempting to repair storm damage. Officials reported more than 30 blown roofs on Oahu as of Saturday evening.
As cleanup begins, emergency management officials are urging residents to remain cautious. Flooded roads, unstable structures, downed power lines and contaminated water can continue posing serious dangers even after the storm itself has moved away.
For Hawaii, the immediate threat from Lala may be fading, but the recovery is only beginning. Destroyed infrastructure, widespread outages, damaged homes and dangerous flood conditions could affect communities for days or longer.
How do you think Hawaii should prepare for future storms capable of producing this level of flooding? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
