More than 200,000 without power in Hawaii, 100 homes damaged as Lala shifts to tropical storm

More than 200,000 utility customers in Hawaii were left without power on Sunday as Hurricane Lala approached and was subsequently downgraded to a tropical storm, according to reports. As of 12.05pm HST, approximately 219,000 customers across the Big Island were without electricity, with Oahu's outage numbers dropping from over 220,000 to around 130,000 by morning.

Governor Josh Green confirmed that at least 100 homes were damaged during a press conference. Lala was moving west-northwest at nearly 16 mph (26 kph) with winds near 65 mph (105 kph), just shy of hurricane status. A tropical storm warning remained in effect for Maui, Oahu, and Kauai counties. Hawaiian Electric reported that repair efforts were complicated by fallen trees and flooded roads.

State officials advised residents to stay indoors, as Lala had caused flash floods in southern regions similar to anything seen before. One person died in a car accident, and at least 117 individuals were in shelters. All airports have reopened, but travelers are advised to check with their airlines for updates.