HONOLULU — Hurricane Lala strengthened into a Category 1 storm as it moved near Hawaii’s Big Island, bringing damaging winds, torrential rain, dangerous surf and life-threatening flooding risks to the state while forcing airport closures and widespread flight cancellations.
The National Hurricane Center issued a hurricane warning for Hawaii County, which includes the Big Island. Tropical storm warnings remained in effect for Maui County, Oʻahu and Kauaʻi County, including the islands of Maui, Lānaʻi, Molokaʻi, Kahoʻolawe, Kauaʻi and Niʻihau.
Hawaii Emergency Management said damaging winds and heavy rain were expected to persist across the Big Island through the night. It urged residents there to shelter in place, while warning that Maui County, Oʻahu and Kauaʻi County could experience damaging winds, flash flooding and landslides through Sunday.
The storm disrupted travel throughout the islands, with the state closing Hilo International Airport and Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keāhole on Saturday. Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines canceled dozens of flights, including inter-island service and trans-Pacific routes.
For residents and visitors, the central danger is not limited to hurricane-force wind. Lala’s heavy rain could produce flash floods, mudslides, and road closures, particularly in steep terrain and low-lying communities. The National Hurricane Center warned that the storm could bring life-threatening flooding and mudslides, as well as dangerous surf and rip-current conditions.
A Category 1 storm near the Big Island
Lala’s maximum sustained winds reached 75 mph as it strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane, according to the National Hurricane Center. The storm made its closest approach to the Big Island on Saturday evening, when its eyewall passed roughly 30 miles from the island’s southern coast.
The storm’s strongest winds were expected to affect southern portions of Hawaii Island, where hurricane-force gusts and intense rainfall posed the greatest threat. CNN reported that winds reached a maximum of 80 mph when Lala was closest to the Big Island.
A hurricane warning means that hurricane conditions are expected in the warning area, generally within 36 hours. A tropical storm warning means tropical-storm conditions, including sustained winds of at least 39 mph, heavy rain, high surf and possible flooding, are expected within the same general time frame.
The warning structure reflects the storm’s uneven impact across Hawaii’s island chain. While the Big Island faced the greatest immediate danger, forecasters warned that the other main islands could still face serious weather as Lala moved westward. Rain bands extending far from the center of a tropical cyclone can bring flooding and landslides even where hurricane-force winds do not occur.
Lala was expected to weaken after passing the Big Island because of land interaction and increasing wind shear. But weakening does not eliminate the threat. A tropical storm or even a depression can still produce extreme rainfall, flash flooding and hazardous surf.
Heavy rain and flash-flood danger
The National Hurricane Center forecast that Lala could produce 10 to 20 inches of rain across the Big Island, with isolated totals as high as 25 inches. Those amounts create a serious risk of flash flooding, particularly in mountainous areas and locations with narrow valleys, streams, and steep slopes.
Heavy rainfall in Hawaii can become dangerous quickly. Water runs down volcanic slopes and through drainage channels toward lower-lying areas, sometimes causing flooding far from the most intense rain. Roads, bridges and culverts can be overwhelmed, and landslides can block transportation routes or threaten homes.
The state maintained a flood watch across Hawaii, warning residents that flooding could continue through the weekend. Hawaii’s official tourism authority said visitors should shelter in place and avoid going to airports unless they have confirmed flight information directly with their airline.
Flooding also threatens water quality, transportation, and power infrastructure. Runoff can carry debris, sediment, and pollutants into streams and coastal waters. In addition to road closures, affected communities may face power outages, disrupted communications, and limited access to emergency services.
Hawaii Emergency Management urged people on the Big Island to remain sheltered overnight. For Maui County, Oʻahu and Kauaʻi County, it warned that the combined risk of heavy rain, strong winds, flash flooding and landslides could continue into Sunday.
Residents in flood-prone areas were advised to monitor alerts, avoid driving through standing or moving water, and move to higher ground if local officials issue evacuation instructions. Travelers and residents should also avoid beaches, harbors and coastal overlooks because surf and rip currents can become life-threatening well before the center of a hurricane arrives.
Airports close and flights are canceled
The storm’s immediate impact extended far beyond weather warnings. Hawaii transportation officials closed Hilo International Airport and Kona International Airport on the Big Island, halting commercial operations as Lala approached.
Hawaiian Airlines canceled 54 inter-island flights and 11 trans-Pacific flights Saturday, according to reporting by The New York Times. Five of the canceled trans-Pacific flights were to or from Kona.
Alaska Airlines also canceled flights as airport operations changed. Disruptions affected routes connecting Hawaii to the mainland, including flights from Los Angeles International Airport to Kona, Maui, Kauaʻi and Honolulu. The Los Angeles Times reported that several United Airlines and American Airlines flights were among those canceled.
Hawaii authorities said the Big Island airports were expected to resume operations Sunday, depending on storm conditions and safety assessments. Travelers were advised to confirm flight status directly with their airline before heading to the airport, as airport facilities were not intended to serve as public storm shelters.
More than 190 flights in and out of Hawaii had been postponed, Hawaii Gov. Josh Green said Saturday, according to CNN.
Flight disruptions can create cascading problems for travelers, particularly in Hawaii, where air transportation is essential for travel between islands and for connections to the U.S. mainland and international destinations. Canceled flights can affect hotel stays, rental cars, medical travel, cargo operations and access to supplies.
Airlines typically provide rebooking options during major weather events, but travelers may face delays because aircraft, crews and airport personnel must be repositioned after weather conditions improve. Travelers should retain receipts, monitor airline alerts, and check their carrier’s weather-waiver policies before making changes to itineraries.
Residents and visitors urged to prepare
Hawaii officials urged people to avoid unnecessary travel and to take warnings seriously. The state’s emergency-management guidance emphasized sheltering in place, staying off roads when conditions deteriorate and maintaining access to emergency supplies.
A basic hurricane preparedness kit should include drinking water, nonperishable food, prescription medications, flashlights, batteries, phone chargers, first-aid supplies, and important documents stored in waterproof containers. Residents should also know where to go if they are asked to evacuate and should make plans for pets, older relatives, and people with mobility needs.
Visitors face different challenges. Many may not be familiar with local flood zones, road conditions, or the speed with which weather can change on the islands. Hawaii tourism officials advised travelers to remain in their accommodations, follow instructions from hotel staff and local emergency officials, and avoid driving to view waves, flooding or storm damage.
The combination of severe weather and tourism infrastructure adds urgency to the official advice. Hawaii’s airports, roads and coastal destinations are closely connected, meaning a single closure or landslide can disrupt access across an entire region.
Maui County officials said that a tropical storm warning remained in effect for all Maui Nui islands and warned that the forecast included potentially damaging winds, heavy rain, flash flooding, coastal flooding and dangerous surf.
A storm with statewide effects
Hurricane Lala is a reminder that the risks from a tropical system extend well beyond its center. Residents on the Big Island faced the most immediate hurricane danger, but weather impacts were expected across the island chain as the storm moved west.
The state’s warning system reflects that wider risk. Maui, Oʻahu and Kauaʻi could experience rainfall and wind severe enough to cause flooding, landslides, downed trees and power outages, even if Lala weakens below hurricane strength.
For Hawaii, the event also highlights the difficulty of managing emergency response across islands separated by ocean. Aviation and marine travel are essential, but they are also vulnerable to wind, rain, high surf and airport closures. Emergency planning must account for local conditions while coordinating statewide resources.
Lala’s longer-term track and intensity will determine how quickly conditions improve. Forecasters expected weakening after its passage near the Big Island, but officials warned against treating that forecast as an all-clear signal. Rainfall, swollen streams and hazardous surf can persist after wind speeds decline.
For now, authorities are emphasizing the same practical message across Hawaii: stay informed through official sources, avoid floodwater and dangerous surf, do not travel unless necessary, and check airline status before going to the airport.
The storm’s impact will be measured not only by wind speed, but by whether residents and visitors are able to stay safe during hours of heavy rain, flooding risk and disrupted transportation across the islands.