Tropical Storm Lala Expected to Reach Hurricane Strength Near Hawaii's Big Island

The National Hurricane Center expects Tropical Storm Lala to intensify to hurricane strength as it approaches Hawaii’s Big Island on Saturday, bringing heavy rain and strong winds. A hurricane warning has been issued for the Big Island, while a tropical storm warning covers Maui County, which includes Maui, Molokai, Lanai and Kahoolawe.

If Lala makes landfall, it would be the first hurricane to strike the Big Island since 1871, when a Category 3 storm hit the island’s northeast corner, according to University of Hawaii research. "First time since satellites," said Vanessa Almanza, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Honolulu, noting that the latest forecast places the storm near the island’s southern tip.

The center projects 8 to 12 inches of rain across Maui and the Big Island, with isolated amounts up to 25 inches on the Big Island, and warns of life-threatening flooding, mudslides, storm surge and hazardous surf conditions. Governor Josh Green described the system as "an enormous storm" and urged residents to prepare.

State Rep. Jeanné Kapela, whose district lies in the storm’s projected path, traveled to the island and advised people to stay alert, especially those living in remote, off-grid homes. "We’re encouraging residents to take this storm seriously, remain vigilant, and get somewhere safe before conditions deteriorate," she said in a text message.

Local officials emphasized that damage can occur without a direct landfall. "It doesn’t take landfall to create destruction," Almanza said. The Hawaii Farm Bureau’s executive director warned growers about the risk of excessive water, while a coffee farmer on the Big Island expressed concern about overflowing streams and high winds.

Although no red-flag fire warnings are in effect, dry and breezy conditions could raise wildfire risk, a concern heightened after the 2023 Lahaina fire that followed strong winds from a distant hurricane.

As of Friday afternoon, Lala was located about 275 miles east-southeast of South Point, moving west-northwest at 14 mph with sustained winds of 65 mph, below the 74 mph threshold for a Category 1 hurricane. University of Hawaii professor Steven Businger, who studies historic Hawaiian hurricanes, said the storm’s path is trending south, giving the Big Island the highest probability of a direct hit, though historically Kauai has experienced the most landfalls.