Hurricane Lala threatens to make landfall on Hawaii's Big Island

Hawaii's Big Island is on high alert as Hurricane Lala barrels toward a potential direct hit, an event not seen in 155 years. The Category 1 hurricane, with sustained winds reaching 120 kilometers per hour, is poised to bring significant threats, including damaging winds, heavy rainfall, and dangerous surf.

“

people should be sheltering in place now

The National Weather Service has issued stark warnings, anticipating localized flooding and life-threatening mudslides, particularly in mountainous areas where residents live in improvised housing. Higher elevations, including the Mauna Kea volcano, could receive as much as 63cm of rain, raising concerns about the stability of the terrain and the potential for flash floods and debris flows.

“

hunker down, cross my fingers, hope the lights don't go out

In preparation, authorities have taken swift action. The Hawaii Department of Transportation announced the closure of Hilo International Airport and Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole. Commercial ports across Hawaii Island, Maui County, and Kaua‘i are also shut down. Governor Josh Green has declared a state of emergency, urging residents to "be sheltering in place now" and describing the storm as "enormous."

“

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

Nearly 20 percent of customers on the Big Island have already lost electricity. Residents are preparing for the impact, with some stocking up on fuel and supplies. Concerns are particularly high regarding fallen trees, especially the large and less sturdy albizia species, which could block roads. The island was under a hurricane warning, with tropical storm warnings extended to other Hawaiian islands, including Maui, Oahu, and Kauai.

“

They're not very sturdy, but they grow extremely large. They can make roads impassable. I made sure my trees were trimmed a few days ago.