Hawaii crews work to restore power to thousands after Lala outages

Emergency crews in Hawaii are racing to restore power to thousands of residents following the passage of Hurricane Lala over the weekend. The storm's outer bands brought destructive flooding and caused at least one fatality, impacting the islands with significant damage.

On the Big Island, which was particularly hard-hit, communities on the southern end remained isolated due to damaged roads and communication lines. Hawaiian Electric reported substantial damage across the island chain, especially in remote areas, with crews working through the night to restore electricity to affected residents on the Big Island, Maui, and Oahu.

While most public schools have reopened, non-emergency government operations in Hawaii County remain suspended. The storm, which weakened to a tropical storm after passing the islands, caused considerable damage to homes, roads, and bridges. Governor Josh Green noted on Monday that the overall damage was less catastrophic than initially feared, suggesting a potentially swift recovery.

The hurricane has since moved west and is expected to curve north towards the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. The storm's impact, though severe in localized areas, is being managed with ongoing restoration efforts and a focus on rebuilding infrastructure.

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The damage was not as catastrophic as feared and that recovery will be “somewhat brisk”.