Hawaii Prepares for Another Storm as Recovery From Hurricane Lala Continues

Hawaii residents are preparing for another round of severe weather this weekend, even as cleanup efforts from Hurricane Lala remain incomplete. The Big Island, which bore the brunt of the previous storm, is again expected to experience the most significant impacts.

The system, currently a tropical depression, is forecast to strengthen into a tropical storm by Friday. Heavy rain and winds are expected to arrive on the Big Island late Saturday and move westward across the island chain through early Tuesday, according to Casey Oswant, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Honolulu.

While the upcoming storm is not expected to be as severe as Hurricane Lala, officials warn of continued risks. "There will still be impacts, especially to the windward and southeast sides of the Big Island, but it will probably be a little bit more limited than what we saw with Lala," Oswant said.

The northeast coast of the Big Island recorded 43.54 inches of rainfall during Lala, causing flooding that swept homes from their foundations and damaged roads and bridges. As of Friday, approximately 11,630 customers on the island remained without power, according to poweroutage.us.

Forecasters predict 5 to 10 inches of rain for the southeast and windward sides of the Big Island this weekend, with isolated amounts up to 15 inches. Other parts of the state may see 1 to 2 inches, though east Maui could receive up to 4 inches.

The National Hurricane Center warns that the rainfall could trigger dangerous rip currents, life-threatening flooding, and mudslides, particularly in steep terrain and areas where the ground remains saturated from the previous storm.

Governor Josh Green and state officials held a news conference Thursday to update residents on recovery progress and urge preparedness. Officials recommend that residents stock up to 14 days of food, medicine, and other essentials.

Tiffany Edwards Hunt, a teacher in Keaau on the Big Island's east side, described the mood in affected communities. "There's definitely tension in the air," she said, noting that some areas were "completely washed out" by the earlier flooding.

The Hawaiian Electric utility expects to restore power to nearly all affected customers on the Big Island, except in remote and severely damaged locations.