Tropical Storm Lala Leaves Thousands Without Power Across Hawaii

Tropical Storm Lala has left a trail of destruction across Hawaii, with thousands of residents still without power on Monday. The storm, which weakened from a hurricane on Sunday, brought intense rainfall and strong winds that uprooted trees, toppled power lines, and caused significant flooding, particularly on the Big Island.

Officials confirmed one fatality linked to the storm: a 90-year-old woman who was reported missing in Naalehu was found dead on Monday. Additional details about the incident were not immediately available.

Governor Josh Green, who surveyed the damage from the air and on foot, noted that the flooding proved more destructive than the wind. While he observed considerable devastation, he also saw many homes that survived and bridges that were not as badly damaged as initially feared. Authorities previously reported that around 100 homes were swept from their foundations and washed away on the Big Island.

The storm's impact has isolated several communities in the southern part of the Big Island, cutting off communication and blocking roads with debris. The 911 emergency service was temporarily out of service on the island due to impacts on radio and telephone communications but was restored by the afternoon.

Hawaiian Electric reported that nearly 104,000 customers were without power as of Monday afternoon. The utility said the Big Island's power transmission system suffered "extensive damage," with strong winds taking down trees, utility poles, and transmission towers. Jim Kelly, Vice President of Communications and Government Relations at Hawaiian Electric, explained that crews from California are being deployed to the Big Island to assist with restoration efforts. "Because of the work that needs to be done on Oahu, we made the call over the weekend to hold back our crews here and put the crews from California on Hawaii Island," he said.

Residents on Maui and Oahu are also dealing with power outages. In Honolulu, traffic lights were not working, and gas pumps were out of service. One resident, Lindsay Simily, described the initial disconnection as a "good disconnect" but said the prolonged outage has been difficult, especially the lack of access to news. Another woman was seen carrying a gas canister for a generator, explaining that her patient relies on it for an oscillating bed.

On Maui, Mayor Richard Bissen visited affected areas, including a veterans' cemetery covered in debris and local businesses damaged by fallen trees. Kauai County Mayor Derek Kawakami, who was on Maui, noted that Kauai "got through relatively unscathed" and highlighted the strong working relationship among the mayors. "We're all one big community," he said.

Cleanup efforts are now underway, with crews repairing bridges, clearing fallen trees, and fixing power lines. Schools and county offices on the Big Island will remain closed on Tuesday. The storm is projected to continue moving westward and is forecast to regain hurricane strength at sea, far from land, by Wednesday.