Nāʻālehu, Hawaii — The devastation left behind by Hurricane Lala has extended far beyond damaged homes and flooded roads, with severe flooding disturbing graves at a cemetery on the southern side of Hawaii’s Big Island.
Nāʻālehu Cemetery sustained significant damage as floodwaters swept through the rural community, leaving headstones, a casket and human remains exposed. Residents visiting the area described heartbreaking scenes as graves on the lower portion of the cemetery were washed away.
Hurricane Lala Floods Cemetery and Washes Away Graves
Hurricane Lala intensified rapidly before reaching southern Hawaii, becoming a Category 3 hurricane on Wednesday, Aug. 19, after forecasters had initially expected a weaker Category 1 storm.
The powerful system caused widespread destruction across the island. Hawaii Gov. Josh Green said at least 100 homes were destroyed, while flooding and storm damage affected roads, bridges and communities.
Among the hardest-hit locations was Nāʻālehu Cemetery, where floodwaters reportedly moved debris and disturbed burial sites.
The road leading to the cemetery was left covered with debris, including displaced headstones, a casket and unearthed remains. The full extent of the cemetery damage has not yet been determined.
Residents Describe Heartbreaking Discovery
For local families, the damage has been especially painful because many of the graves belong to their loved ones. Raedyn Louis told Hawaii News Now that his father’s headstone was missing after the storm.
“Sad to see everybody’s ʻohana just washed away and everything,” Louis said. “But it is what it is. We couldn’t stop this.”
Louis also described seeing disturbing evidence of graves being opened by the flooding.
“You can see caskets, bones, like it’s deep. It’s overhead kine, so it’s deep. You can see everything,” he said, explaining that several graves on the cemetery’s lower side appeared to have been washed away.
Another resident, Colleen Gundaker, said headstones belonging to her loved ones had also been displaced.
“Heartbreaking. It’s just really heartbreaking,” Gundaker said. “There’s no words that can describe the feeling.”
Governor Urges Respect for Sacred Remains
The destruction prompted Gov. Green to issue a statement asking people to treat the cemetery and those buried there with respect. The governor referred to the dispersal of ʻiwi kūpuna, a Hawaiian term referring to the sacred ancestral skeletal remains of Native Hawaiians.
The situation has created an especially sensitive recovery effort as authorities and local residents work to understand the extent of the damage and determine how the displaced remains and burial sites should be handled.
Hurricane Lala Leaves Death and Widespread Damage
The cemetery destruction came as Hurricane Lala caused significant damage across Hawaii. Three people have died amid the storm, according to authorities.
A 45-year-old man was killed in a head-on vehicle collision on Saturday, Aug. 15, according to the Hawai‘i Police Department. A man in his 60s was later found dead in the Kaʻū District after residents discovered him on Tuesday, Aug. 18. He had been reported missing following a welfare check.
A 93-year-old woman, May Doi, was also reported missing and later found deceased in the Kaʻū District on Monday, Aug. 16.
The storm also disrupted electricity for thousands of residents. As of Wednesday, about 19,000 people remained without power, down significantly from an estimated 104,000 customers without electricity on Monday.
Roads and Bridges Also Damaged
Flooding and powerful storm conditions have damaged transportation infrastructure throughout the island.
Numerous roads and bridges were affected, including the collapse of a two-lane bridge that cut off access to the community of Pahala.
As recovery efforts continue, residents face the difficult task of repairing homes, roads and essential infrastructure while families connected to Nāʻālehu Cemetery confront the emotional impact of seeing their loved ones’ resting places disturbed.
The full extent of the cemetery damage and the process for recovering and protecting the displaced remains are expected to become clearer as officials assess the area.
What are your thoughts on the heartbreaking damage at Nāʻālehu Cemetery? Share your reaction in the comments below.
