Hurricane Lala, after passing south of the Hawaiian Islands on Sunday, weakened from a Category 1 hurricane to a tropical depression. However, meteorologists warn that hurricane-force winds could still batter the islands, bringing flash flooding and violent gusts.
Earlier, the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) had issued a hurricane warning for the Big Island, which had not experienced a direct hurricane landfall in 155 years. By Sunday morning, as the tropical depression's winds moved westward past Maui, Oahu, and Kauai, Lala hugged the coastline and barely avoided the main affected areas.
Despite this, large waves continue to pummel the Big Island's shores. Strong gusts bent tall palm trees, and relentless rain caused rivers to rise rapidly. According to NHC advisories issued early Sunday, rainfall could reach up to 90 centimeters in some parts of the Big Island, especially on windward slopes. The risk of life-threatening flash floods and landslides remains high.
As of Saturday evening, more than 60,000 households in Hawaii were without power, and three hospitals had switched to generators, Governor Josh Green reported. At least one person died in a car accident near South Point on the Big Island, and 19 roofs were torn off during the storm.
Christine Matsuda, a resident of Waimea in northern Big Island, described to the AP that "huge gusts of wind shook the entire house every few minutes." Tropical depression warnings remain in effect for Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe, Oahu, Kauai, and Niihau.
Meanwhile, severe flooding is affecting communities across the state, causing coastal erosion. Residents also worry that heavy rain and strong winds could trigger catastrophic wildfires in the Aloha State.
