Hurricane Lala Leaves One Dead, 60,000 Without Power in Hawaii  

By The Media Line Staff  

Hurricane Lala battered Hawaii’s Big Island with heavy rain and strong winds Saturday, leaving one person dead, knocking out power to more than 60,000 customers, and damaging buildings as the Category 1 storm passed the island without making landfall.  

One person died in a storm-related car accident, Hawaii Gov. Josh Green said in a video update Saturday evening. At least 19 buildings lost their roofs as the storm moved past the island, he said.  

Lala made its closest approach to the Big Island at about 5 p.m. local time, when its eyewall passed roughly 30 miles from the island’s southern portion, according to the National Hurricane Center. The hurricane had maximum sustained winds of 80 mph.  

The storm was expected to weaken gradually after its closest approach. The National Hurricane Center warned that heavy rainfall continuing into Sunday could cause additional flooding and mudslides, while powerful waves were expected along the coast.  

Videos obtained by CNN showed streets inundated by torrential rain on the Big Island.  

More than 60,000 customers were without electricity Saturday, while Hawaii County Mayor Kimo Alameda said the island had experienced a record number of road closures and prolonged power outages.  

Alameda urged residents in a Facebook post Saturday evening to take cover, saying the hurricane warning remained in effect. Dangerous conditions also forced road and utility workers to suspend some operations.  

“Conditions have degraded to a point that concern for the safety of our road and power personnel has resulted in crews being asked to fall back until conditions improve,” Alameda said.  

More than 190 flights into and out of Hawaii were postponed, Green said.  

Emergency response efforts would remain the priority for the next 36 hours, Green said, with crews expected to begin a more complete assessment of storm damage Monday.  

Although Lala skirted the Big Island rather than moving ashore, its rain caused extensive flooding, with swollen rivers becoming powerful torrents as the storm passed the region.