Historic Hurricane Lala May Strike Hawaii's Big Island Saturday

Tropical Storm Lala is gaining power in the Pacific, and officials are sounding the alarm that a historic direct hit may be just hours away for Hawaii. Experts predict the system will likely arrive at hurricane strength early Saturday morning. This event would stand as the first hurricane to strike the Big Island since accurate weather records began in the 20th century.

Amos Lonokailua-Hewett, who runs emergency management on Maui, urged residents to get ready immediately. 'Lala is strengthening, and we need people to prepare now for the potential of dangerous winds, heavy rain, flooding and large waves,' he said. The threat is real enough that sharks are reportedly moving into unexpected US waters near popular beaches.

Jesse Ferrell from AccuWeather weighed in on the rarity of such an event. 'A hurricane has never made landfall on the Big Island,' she stated. A storm of this magnitude could bring misery to coastal communities, disrupting lives and damaging infrastructure before it even makes contact with the shore. The risks are high, and the potential impact to local residents is severe.

The National Hurricane Center issued an official Hurricane Warning for Hawaii's Big Island on Friday, while Tropical Storm Warnings were also placed in effect across Maui County. This county encompasses the islands of Maui, Molokai, Lanaʻi, and Kahoʻolawe. Lala is currently pushing with sustained winds of 60 mph and is set to begin hitting the state this Friday afternoon, bringing dangerous gusts and heavy rain.

Once the storm fully arrives on Saturday, AccuWeather's worst-case scenario suggests parts of the Big Island could face up to 30 inches of rain, deadly flash flooding, mudslides, wind gusts reaching 100 mph, and ocean surges nearing six feet. The system is projected to intensify into a hurricane as early as August 14, threatening to become the first storm ever to make landfall on Hawaii's Big Island since modern records began.

The National Weather Service forecasts that Lala will hit Category 1 status right before striking the island Saturday morning. While the heaviest rainfall and wind damage are expected on the eastern side of the Big Island, forecasters now predict the entire chain will see at least two to four inches of rain this weekend, with isolated spots seeing eight inches.

AccuWeather rated Lala as a Level 2 out of 5 on their 'Real Impact' scale for hurricane damage. This means the storm will likely cause wind damage to small buildings and trees, widespread power outages, and significant property damage in coastal communities. Alex DaSilva, lead hurricane expert at AccuWeather, warned that the oncoming storm closely resembles Hurricane Hone. That event brought severe flooding and dangerous winds to the island paradise in 2024 despite never making landfall. 'Despite never making landfall in Hawaii, Hone brought more than two feet of rain to portions of the Big Island, causing significant flooding, as well as winds in excess of 70 mph,' DaSilva said in a statement.

There is a long history here that feels surreal now. The only other hurricane believed to have made landfall on the Big Island was the 1871 Kohala Cyclone, but reports are unconfirmed and come only from local newspapers. According to Hawaiian news outlet Big Island Now, that cyclone was a Category 3 when it struck the north side of the island on August 9, 1871. Since modern weather records have been kept, only two tropical storms, Darby in 2016 and Iselle in 2014, have made landfall on Hawaii's Big Island.

Hawaii's Big Island and Maui are expected to take the most severe damage from Lala. More than one million people live spread out across the state, particularly in communities such as Honolulu, Waikiki, Kahului, and Kihei. The islands are at the peak of their summer travel season right now. Roughly 250,000 vacationers visit beaches and other tourist attractions on any given day from June to mid-August. Maui, Hawaii's second-largest island and one of the state's top vacation destinations, welcomed approximately 2.5 million visitors in 2025. Tourists flock there for world-class white and black sand beaches, luxury resorts, whale-watching sites, and iconic attractions such as the 64-mile-long highway known as the Road to Hāna.

Mayor Richard Bissen of Maui County said: 'County departments have been preparing for Tropical Storm Lala, and we're asking our community to do the same.' He urged residents to use today to finish securing property, making sure their homes have enough food, water, supplies, and medications, and to check on kūpuna, neighbors, and loved ones. The reality of the situation is stark. Only Darby in 2016 and Iselle in 2014 are the only tropical storms to ever make landfall on Hawaii's Big Island. Now Lala threatens that record with a direct hit projected for Saturday morning, bringing over 16 inches of rain to the island's east side.

Lala stands ready to become the first hurricane of its kind for this season. The National Weather Service has issued a stark warning: people living where heavy rain could spark floods must prepare for local evacuations. Officials spoke plainly on Friday, telling everyone in affected zones to leave right away if an order drops down for their specific area. Don't wait.

Preparation is now the only option. Residents need to gather enough food, water, and vital supplies like prescription medicine to last at least 14 days without help. Those calling the islands home should also grab their important documents and memorize the quickest path out if disaster strikes. Power grids face a serious test as Lala rolls through. Authorities on Maui say extended blackouts are very possible during the storm's passage.