Hawaii's Big Island braces for rare hurricane landfall as Lala strengthens

Tropical Storm Lala is expected to strengthen into a hurricane before reaching Hawaii's Big Island early Saturday, prompting a hurricane warning and emergency preparations across the state.

The National Hurricane Center said Lala could make landfall on the island's southern tip, which would mark the first hurricane landfall in Hawaii since 1871, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Vanessa Almanza. That earlier storm, a Category 3, struck the northern side of the island.

"First time since satellites," Almanza said, noting the latest forecast puts the storm very close to the southern tip.

A hurricane warning is in effect for the Big Island, while a tropical storm warning covers Maui County, including Maui, Molokai, Lanai, and Kahoolawe. Officials warned that even a near-miss could cause severe impacts.

"It doesn't take landfall to create destruction," Almanza said. "A lot of the impacts are felt outside of the hurricane."

Some areas of the Big Island could receive up to 25 inches (63.5 centimeters) of rain, according to county officials. Shelters have been opened and events canceled as heavy rain is expected later in the day.

State Representative Jeanné Kapela, who represents southern Big Island communities, urged residents to take the storm seriously. "We're encouraging residents to take this storm seriously, remain vigilant, and get somewhere safe before conditions deteriorate," she said. She also noted that many parts of the state are still recovering from devastating flooding in March, adding, "We know how quickly heavy rain and flooding can impact our rural communities."

While no red flag warnings were in effect, Almanza said dry and breezy conditions could still raise fire concerns. In 2023, the Maui town of Lahaina burned during extreme winds from a hurricane passing far to the south.

As of late Friday morning, Lala was about 340 miles (545 kilometers) east-southeast of South Point, Hawaii, with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 kph), moving west-northwest at 14 mph (22 kph). The threshold for a Category 1 hurricane is 74 mph (46 kph).