Hawaii braces for potential first direct hit by a hurricane in 34 years

Hawaii is on high alert as category one storm Lala approaches, marking what could be the islands' first direct hurricane hit since 1992. The storm, currently packing 75mph winds, intensified on Saturday and is expected to make landfall or pass near the southern tip of Big Island later on Saturday before continuing west. Hawaii Governor Josh Green advised residents to prepare for "an incredible amount of water," warning of damaging winds, heavy rain, flash flooding, and dangerous surf across the state over the weekend.

Big Island's south-east regions face the most severe forecasts, with potential major rainfall flooding leading to possible evacuations and rescues. The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued dire warnings for these areas, stating that rivers and tributaries may rapidly overflow their banks. While Miami County, Oahu, Kauai, and Niihau are under tropical storm warnings, Big Island is under a hurricane warning.

The storm is expected to weaken into a tropical storm, with its center potentially passing just below other Hawaiian islands. The last time a hurricane made landfall on Hawaii's Big Island was 155 years ago, in 1869. Iniki, a category four storm, last hit Hawaii in 1992, causing six deaths and $3 billion in damage after making landfall on Kauai's southern coast.