Story perspectives

Hurricane Lala Leaves Nearly 15,000 Without Power in Hawaii

8/20/2026

Summary

Lala Devastates Hawaii

Hurricane Lala ripped roofs, flooded roads, and left thousands without power across Hawaii.
It caused two deaths, including a man in his 60s found in a pasture.
Nearly 15,000 homes and businesses remained without electricity on Thursday.
National Weather Service recorded 43.54 inches of rain in Laupahoehoe, island’s heaviest rainfall.
Mayor Kimo Alameda said storm swept 100 homes off foundations and at least partially destroyed six bridges on Big Island.

Summary

Hawaiian Electric Prepares

Hawaiian Electric announced an enhanced state of readiness as a new tropical system approaches.
City crews continue debris removal while monitoring drainage and flood risks in Lala-affected areas.
Emergency officials urge residents to stock 14-day supplies and update emergency plans amid outages.
Invest 90E has a 90% chance of becoming a tropical depression, potentially threatening the Big Island.

History

Historical Context

In 1992 Hurricane Iniki struck Kauai as a Category 4 storm, causing $3.1 billion in damage, 7 deaths and a prolonged island-wide blackout; Governor John Waihee declared a state of emergency and Hawaiian Electric began massive restoration. The disaster spurred federal FEMA aid, grid-resilience projects and stricter coastal building codes, shaping Hawaii’s response to today’s Hurricane Lala.

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Lala Devastates Hawaii

Hurricane Lala ripped roofs, flooded roads, and left thousands without power across Hawaii.
It caused two deaths, including a man in his 60s found in a pasture.
Nearly 15,000 homes and businesses remained without electricity on Thursday.
National Weather Service recorded 43.54 inches of rain in Laupahoehoe, island’s heaviest rainfall.
Mayor Kimo Alameda said storm swept 100 homes off foundations and at least partially destroyed six bridges on Big Island.

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