Hurricane Lala set its sights on Hawaii’s Big Island over the weekend, potentially marking the island’s first direct hurricane impact in over 155 years. The National Hurricane Center reported that Lala intensified to a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds reaching 120 km/h. The eyewall was projected to pass over or near the island’s southern tip by evening, delivering its strongest winds to the volcanic slopes thousands of feet above sea level.
Weather experts warned that higher elevations on the island, primarily the Mauna Kea volcano area, could receive up to 63.5 centimeters of rainfall, posing a significant risk of life-threatening mudslides, particularly in mountainous regions where residents live in makeshift housing off the grid. Local authorities advised swift relocation to safe shelters.
Residents, like 75-year-old Bobby Camara, a lifelong Big Island native residing at a care facility near Hilo, expressed cautious optimism, intending to weather the storm while hoping for uninterrupted power supply. Camara noted the surge in gas station activities as locals stocked up on fuel for equipment like chainsaws and vehicles.
Governor Josh Green characterized the approaching storm as “enormous,” highlighting the potential for severe flooding and even wildfires spurred by strong winds across the island chain. Approximately 10% of Big Island customers faced power outages, according to data from poweroutage.us.
Concerns among residents, including Mike Caputo from Keaau on the island’s east coast, centered on flash flooding and fallen trees, particularly the vulnerable albizia trees known for impeding road access due to their large size. Caputo, a local fire captain, emphasized the importance of tree maintenance ahead of the storm to prevent road blockages.
The Big Island was under a hurricane warning, with tropical storm warnings issued for various other Hawaiian islands. While historical records indicate a Category 3 hurricane striking the Big Island’s northeast corner in 1871, current projections positioned Lala for a close approach to the island’s southern extremity, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Vanessa Almanza in Honolulu.
Authorities stressed the gravity of the situation and urged residents to take necessary precautions, such as seeking shelter in designated locations, cancelling events, and safeguarding livestock in open pastures to avoid structural collapse risks. Almanza’s forecast indicated anticipated rainfall ranging from 20.3 to 30.5 centimeters across Maui and lower elevations of the Big Island, with 10.2 to 15.2 centimeters expected across the entire island chain.
State Representative Jeanné Kapela emphasized the need for vigilance, especially for the remote and rural communities in the island’s southern region, known for its agricultural activities like coffee and cattle farming. Kapela highlighted concerns for off-grid residents and advised seeking secure accommodations with friends or family if primary residences were deemed unsafe.
The heightened winds accompanying the storm raised concerns of increased wildfire risks due to dry and breezy conditions prevailing outside the storm’s core. The memory of the 2023 Lahaina fire, which occurred during extreme winds amid a passing hurricane to the south, served as a stark reminder for locals like Archie Kalepa, renowned for his ocean skills and community engagement in Lahaina.
Reflecting on past devastations, experts underscored the unpredictability of storms, citing the 1992 landfall of Hurricane Iniki on Kauai as a sobering example of the destructive potential of severe weather events. The aftermath of Hurricane Iniki, a Category 4 storm that caused extensive damage and casualties, serves as a cautionary tale of the lasting impact such disasters can have on communities.
The upcoming Atlantic hurricane season, predicted to be below average due to El Niño influences, offers a glimpse into the interconnectedness of weather patterns and the global implications of natural phenomena like hurricanes. Amid the uncertainties, residents and authorities alike remain vigilant, preparing for the worst while hoping for the best.