Hurricane Lala skirts Hawaii’s Big Island as heavy wind and rain lash region

Hurricane Lala skirted Hawaii's Big Island on Saturday, lashing the region with powerful winds and torrential rain that caused significant disruption but spared the island from a direct hit. The storm's eye passed the island's southern tip, averting what could have been the first hurricane landfall in 155 years.

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You definitely want to be home, do not be out on the roads.

Despite the storm's indirect passage, its impact was severe. Hawaii Governor Josh Green reported at least one fatality in a car accident on the Big Island. Approximately 60,000 households experienced power outages, and 19 homes lost their roofs. The National Weather Service noted that hurricane-force winds were expected to persist into the night, particularly in higher elevations, while heavy rainfall into Sunday raised concerns about potential flooding and mudslides.

Residents had prepared for the storm's arrival, with many heeding warnings to stay home. Bobby Camara, a lifelong resident, spoke of hunkering down and hoping for the best, noting the busy gas stations as people fueled up for chain saws and vehicles. "Stocking up is part of life over here," Camara said. "You learn to be self-reliant."

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I think stocking up is part of life over here. You learn to be self-reliant.

Mike Caputo, who lives on the east coast, had his generator and water tank ready. His primary concerns were flash flooding and fallen trees, especially the common but less sturdy albizia trees that can easily block roads. The storm had intensified into a Category 1 hurricane early Saturday with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 kph). The last hurricane to make landfall in Hawaii was Iniki in 1992.

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They’re not very sturdy, but they grow extremely large. They can make roads impassable.