Hawaii faces widespread outages and damage as Tropical Storm Lala moves west

Tropical Storm Lala, which weakened from a Category 1 hurricane to sustained winds of about 65 mph, continued to bring heavy rain and strong winds across the Hawaiian islands on Sunday. The storm left over 200,000 customers without electricity, with nearly 70 % of the Big Island still in the dark, according to utility reports.

Governor Josh Green told a news conference that at least 100 homes were damaged or destroyed, and Hawaii County Mayor Kimo Alameda said civil defense had begun a search-and-rescue operation after several occupied homes were swept off their foundations. A flash-flood warning was issued for Oahu, including Honolulu, following similar warnings on the Big Island the previous night.

The storm’s eyewall brushed the southern part of the Big Island at about 5 p.m. local time, bringing more than 30 inches of rain in some areas, according to the National Hurricane Center. More than 190 flights were delayed, and road crews were working to clear debris from numerous closures caused by downed trees, utility lines and landslides.

Officials warned that additional rain could trigger further flash flooding and mudslides, especially in steep terrain. Up to six inches of rain were forecast for parts of Kauai, while tropical-storm warnings remained in effect for Maui, Lanai, Molokai, Oahu and Kahoolawe. A high-surf advisory warned of waves reaching 8 to 12 feet on east-facing shores.

Around 130 residents sought shelter on Saturday, and county officials distributed sandbags to vulnerable neighborhoods. Mayor Alameda urged residents to stay off roadways, secure property and keep emergency supplies ready. The National Guard and local agencies prepared resources for areas previously hit by storms earlier in the year.

The storm is moving westward, and emergency responders expect to be occupied with urgent tasks for the next 36 hours, with damage assessments slated to begin on Monday.