Hurricane Lala in Hawaii: 130,000 without power

Nearly 130,000 utility customers in Hawaii were left without electricity on Sunday morning following Hurricane Lala's close approach before it weakened into a tropical storm. The majority of outages were concentrated on the Big Island, Honolulu County, and Maui County. Heavy rain and powerful winds continued to batter parts of the state, hampering efforts to restore power and assess damage.

While the storm did not make a direct landfall, its proximity triggered major disruptions across the islands. Hawaii officials advised residents to remain indoors as dangerous conditions could persist even after Lala lost its hurricane status. The storm brought a significant amount of rainfall, with some areas potentially receiving 30 to 35 inches (76 to 89 cm) in total, raising concerns about further flooding, road closures, and damage to homes and infrastructure.

One person died in a car incident, and two homes were swept away. Hawaiian Electric warned that repair crews faced obstacles due to hurricane-force winds, intense rainfall, flooded roads, and downed trees. Residents in vulnerable areas expressed anxiety about rising water levels, with one person fearing seawater could reach her home.

Governor Josh Green urged residents to shelter in place, emphasizing the seriousness of the threat despite Lala's expected weakening. Despite being downgraded to a tropical storm, Lala maintained maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h), classifying it as a Category 1 hurricane. By Sunday morning, winds had eased to around 70 mph (112 km/h), just below the hurricane threshold.

The National Hurricane Center continued to warn of life-threatening conditions, primarily due to torrential rainfall, flash flooding, mudslides, dangerous roads, and wind damage. Air travel across the islands was disrupted, with Hilo International Airport and Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport closed on Saturday. Authorities advised people to avoid unnecessary travel and heed emergency instructions as Hawaii continued to grapple with the aftermath of Hurricane Lala.