Hurricane Lala, which apparently didn't get the memo that it was supposed to make landfall to be taken seriously, weakened to a tropical storm on Sunday after skirting Hawaii with all the grace of a bull in a china shop. The Big Island, however, wasn't spared the drama: hurricane-force gusts continued to lash the island, with nearly 3ft (1 meter) of rain expected on the higher windward slopes, turning rivers into raging torrents and threatening mudslides. Because why not.
Hawaii Governor Josh Green confirmed at least one death in a car accident in the South Point area of the Big Island, where more than 100 homes were destroyed. By Sunday afternoon, over 200,000 homes and businesses across Hawaii's three largest islands were without power, according to PowerOutage.us, proving that even modern civilization is no match for a good old-fashioned storm. At least three hospitals were running on generator power, and 19 roofs were lost - a statistic that sounds oddly specific but is probably accurate.
A search-and-rescue mission involving civil defense, the national guard, and the coast guard was launched after flash floods apparently swept several occupied homes off their foundations in the coastal communities of Na'alehu and Wai'ohinu, near the island's southern tip, said Hawaii County Mayor Kimo Alameda. Governor Green, who had earlier described Lala as an 'enormous storm,' advised: 'You definitely want to be home, do not be out on the roads.' Sage advice, really.
Tropical storm conditions were spreading westward from Maui to Oahu and then Kauai, with the National Hurricane Center noting that wind speeds atop mountains and slopes are often up to 30% stronger than near-surface winds. Because the storm wasn't already enough of a nuisance.
The possibility of the island's first direct hurricane hit in 155 years faded as the eye passed the southern tip. Landfall was not expected, said National Weather Service meteorologist Joseph Clark. But hurricane-force winds were to continue into the night, with the strongest gusts in higher terrain, and heavy rainfall could produce flooding and mudslides. Tropical storm warnings remained in effect for Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe, Oahu, Kauai, and Niihau, with the added bonus of potential wildfires kicked up by strong winds.
The beloved Punalu'u Bake Shop in Naalehu, Big Island - a tourist hotspot and major local employer - was severely damaged. Manager Zachary Kennedy said water rushed through factories and retail store, leaving about 3ft of mud. 'This is a different level of damage. It's literally catastrophic,' he said, which is probably an understatement.
Forecasters predicted up to 35in (89cm) of rain at higher elevations, especially around Mauna Kea, which could cause life-threatening mudslides where some of Big Island's 210,000 residents live off the grid in improvised housing. As the hurricane approached, shelters opened, events were canceled, and ranchers were urged to leave cattle in pastures rather than in structures that might collapse. Many residents were still dealing with March's devastating floods and took precautions.
Bobby Camara, a 75-year-old lifelong resident, planned to 'hunker down, cross my fingers, hope the lights don't go out' at a care home near Hilo. He noted gas stations were busy as people sought fuel for chain saws and vehicles. 'I think stocking up is part of life over here,' he said. 'You learn to be self-reliant.'
Mike Caputo, 50, a local fire captain in Keaau, had his generator ready and a 10,000-gallon (37.8 kiloliter) home water tank full. His main concern was flash flooding and fallen trees, especially albizia. 'They're not very sturdy, but they grow extremely large,' he said. 'They can make roads impassable.'
Lala intensified from a tropical storm into a category 1 hurricane early Saturday with maximum sustained winds of 75mph (120km/h). The last hurricane to make landfall on the islands was Hurricane Iniki in 1992, a category 4 storm that hit Kauai. The Big Island was last hit directly in 1871, when a category 3 hurricane struck the north-east corner, according to research by a University of Hawaii atmospheric scientist.
The hurricane center predicted 8-12in (20.3-30.5cm) of rain across Maui and lower elevations of the Big Island, and 4-6in (10.2-15.2cm) across the island chain. So, in summary: Lala may have missed a direct hit, but it's still making its presence felt.