What you need to know about Tropical Storm Lala on the Big Island

Editor’s Note: This story was updated at 10:06 p.m. Aug. 14, 2026. Information will be regularly updated.

A hurricane warning remains in effect for the entire Big Island as Tropical Storm Lala is expected to continue strengthening as it nears the state, with the storm still forecast as of Friday to become a Category 1 hurricane by Saturday afternoon.

Here is what you need to know on the Big Island.

Airports

All Hawaiʻi airports, including those on the Big Island, are open and operating normally. Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation said all passengers should check with their air carrier for status before heading to the airport.

Hawai’i Gov. Josh Green reported Friday evening during a press briefing about Lala that 23 flights scheduled Saturday already were canceled, most of them on interisland routes.

Hawaiian Electric

Power outages — possibly extensive — are possible because of hurricane conditions this weekend caused by Tropical Storm Lala, which is forecast to become a Category 1 hurricane by Saturday afternoon.

Those conditions include high winds, heavy rainfall and others.

Hawaiian Electric has more than 500 employees, contractors and support workers positioned throughout three counties to assist with damage assessment and power restoration efforts, which will only begin when conditions are safe for crews to work.

How customers can prepare:

• Check emergency equipment such as flashlights and lanterns to make sure they are operational. Buy extra batteries, battery-operated radios and light sticks, as well as possibly an emergency generator. 
• Have a battery-powered radio to listen for updates about weather conditions and possible public safety power shutoff implementation. 
• Check backups for life-sustaining medical equipment needed by someone in your home who depends on it. Plan where to go if evacuation is ordered. If you need to go to the hospital or other emergency shelter, remember to take your medical equipment and medications. 
• Make sure portable generators are in a well-ventilated area outside the home and carefully follow all instructions in the manufacturer’s manual. 
• Turn your refrigerator and freezer to their coldest settings. If power goes out, this will keep food fresher longer.  
• Turn off and unplug any unnecessary electrical equipment, especially sensitive electronics. If an outage occurs, this will prevent damage to the equipment from surges when power is restored. 
• Don’t venture out in the dark because you might not see a downed power line that could be energized and dangerous; avoid standing water and debris. 
• If you see a downed power line, assume it is energized and dangerous. Stay at least 30 feet away. Warn others to stay away. For emergency assistance Call 9-1-1 for emergency assistance. Otherwise, to report a downed power line, call the Hawaiian Electric Trouble Line for each county or island:
  • Oʻahu: 1-855-304-1212
  • Hawaiʻi Island: 1-855-304-9191
  • Maui County: 1-855-304-8181 

How to stay informed: 

• Hawaiian Electric website: hawaiianelectric.com.
• X: @HwnElectric; @mauielectric; @hielectriclight.
• Facebook: facebook.com/HawaiianElectric.
• Mobile app: Free download available on The App Store for Apple devices for and Google Play for Android devices. 

You also have the option to sign up to receive emergency outage alerts from Hawaiian Electric.

Free sand for sand bags

Hawai‘i County Department of Public Works is providing sandpiles around the island so residents to make their own sandbags ahead of possible flash flooding. You must bring your own bags.

Empty jute sandbags are available at a variety of hardware and home improvement supply stores around the island and can be filled with sand or soil.

For a map of the locations and exact times, click here.

If your residence or business is prone to flooding, take measures to have your sandbags in place before flooding occurs.

Public Shelters

Hawaiʻi County opened public shelters at 6 p.m. Friday at these locations:

• Ikuo Hisaoka Gymnasium, 54-382 Kamehameha Park Road, Kapaʻau.
• Waikōloa Elementary School cafeteria, 68-1730 Hoʻoko St., Waikōloa.
• Kahilu Town Hall, 67-1182 Lindsey Road, Waimea
• Honokaʻa Gym, 45-541 Lehua St., Honokaʻa.
• Laupāhoehoe Community Public Charter School band room, 35-2605 Māmalahoa Highway, Laupāhoehoe.
• Waiākea High School gym, 155 W. Kāwili St., Hilo
• Keaʻau Armory, 16-512 Volcano Road, Keaʻau.
• Pāhoa Neighborhood Facility, 15-2910 Kauhale St., Pāhoa.
• Robert N. Herkes Gym, 96-1219 Kamani St., Pāhala.
• Nāʻālehu Elementary School gym, 95-5545 Māmalahoa Highway, Nāʻālehu.
• Kealakehe High School gym, 74-5000 Pūʻohulihuli St., Kailua-Kona.
• Yano Hall, 82-6156 Māmalahoa Highway, Captain Cook.

Residents who evacuate to the shelters should bring their own food, water, sleeping items and any necessary medications. Pets also are welcome.

Bus service

• Hele-On Kako‘o Paratransit Services ended at 8 p.m. Friday.
• All Hele-On bus routes and Paratransit services will be canceled Saturday and Sunday.

Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park closures

• The following parts of the park were closed as of 2 p.m. Thursday: Mauna Loa summit, Red Hill and Mauna Loa Road past Kīpukapuaulu. Kīpukapuaulu also remains closed because of hazard trees.
• The following areas were closed at noon Friday: The Welcome Center and the Hawaiʻi Pacific Parks Association store, Kahuku Unit, all trails and Nāhuku lava tube, tent camping at Nāmakanipaio campgroun, all backcountry sites including the coast and Pepeiao, Chain of Craters Road and the Crater Rim Drive East. Visitors should check the park website for alerts, www.nps.gov/havo.  
• These areas are still open for registered guests only: Kīlauea Military Camp, Volcano House and the A-frame cabins at Nāmakanipaio. Lodging guests must shelter in place.

County closures and facility impacts

• Camping permits are cancelled for Friday and Saturday. 
• All Hawaiʻi County solid waste facilities, including transfer stations, will be closed Saturday.
• All Hawaiʻi County parks will be closed Saturday.

Other closures

• Hilo Public Library, Kailua-Kona Public Library and Thelma Parker Memorial Public and School Library in Waimea are closed Saturday. All Hawaiʻi Island library programs slated for Saturday also are canceled.
• ʻImiloa Astronomy Center is closed.
• Maunakea Visitors Center is closed. Access above the visitors center is restricted to essential personnel.

Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources — out of an abundance of caution as Tropical Storm Lala continues its approach toward the state — on Friday announced the following closures of camping, parks, lands and trails:

Statewide

• All camping and lodging in state parks and on state lands is suspended as of 7 p.m. Friday — and at least through the weekend. Notifications were sent to everyone who received a camping permit.
• Refunds will be credited to the accounts of anyone who misses camping nights because of storm closures.

Hawaiʻi Island

• State parks on Hawaiʻi Island will close at 4 a.m. Saturday.
• Hawaiʻi Island forestry and wildlife lands were closed as of 7 p.m. Friday.

The state Land Department asks for everyone’s cooperation with these closure announcements.

People are advised to avoid forested and coastal areas because of the dangers of rising streams, flash flooding, falling trees, storm surge and high surf.

Emergency response or rescue from these areas could be delayed.

People in remote locations who might face dangerous surf, flooding or bad road conditions are advised to shelter in place.

While state Land Department lands will reopen upon cancellation of National Weather Service warnings and watches, residents and visitors are urged to continue exercising caution as hazards could persist and certain facilities might remain closed as required until inspections after the storm are completed.

Any extended closures will be announced as soon as possible.

Residents and visitors are advised to follow instructions of Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency and county emergency management agencies regarding preparations and safety precautions for heavy rain, flooding, strong winds, power outages, large surf and coastal surge.

Use these online resources:

• Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency: https://dod.hawaii.gov/hiema/.
• Emergency Management Agency contacts: https://waihalana.hawaii.gov/ema-contacts/.
• More weather information: https://www.weather.gov/hfo.
• Storm-related park closure updates: Hawaiʻi State Parks web page.

University of Hawai‘i at Hilo and Hawaiʻi Community College

University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo and Hawaiʻi Community College on Saturday and Sunday will close all campuses, offices and off-campus locations.

All weekend events, including athletic events, are canceled. Normal operations for both campuses are currently scheduled to resume on Monday, pending post-storm facility evaluations.

But for University of Hawai‘i at Hilo residential students, the on-campus residence halls remain open, and Residence Life staff members are actively present to assist on-campus students through the duration of the storm. The residence halls are relatively empty because students don’t begin moving in until next week.

Event cancellations

The following events sponsored by Hawaiʻi County or hosted at county facilities were canceled:

• Hawaiʻi Island Agrifood Summit in Honokaʻa and Waimea.
• Hulu Street Evacuation Drill in Waikoloa.
• Island Showdown at Hilo Drag Strip. (Cancelled for Saturday, Aug. 15).

Hawaiʻi Island public schools

All public school campuses and offices closed at 5:30 p.m. Friday and will remain closed through Sunday.

All previously scheduled school-related events and activities — including sports events — during the closure period are canceled or postponed.

Hawaiʻi Island public schools and offices are expected to resume normal operations Monday, if conditions allow.

National Weather Service tips for how to stay safe

• Complete all preparations now, time is running out, to protect life an property in accordance with your emergency plan. Ensure you are in a safe location before the onset of strong winds and flooding.
• If heading to a public shelter, become familiar with the shelter rules before arrival, especially if you have special needs or pets. Take essential items with you from your emergency supplies kit.
• Failure to adequately shelter could result in serious injury or loss of life. Remember that 9-1-1 emergency services might not be able to immediately respond if conditions are unsafe. This should be a big factor in your decision-making.
• Keep cellphones well-charged. Cellphone chargers for vehicles can be helpful, but be aware of your risk for deadly carbon monoxide poisoning if your car is left idling in a garage or other poorly ventilated area.
• It is important to remain calm, informed and focused during an emergency. Be patient and helpful with those you encounter.
• If you are a visitor, be sure to know the name of the city or town in which you are staying and county in which it is located.
• Rapidly rising flood waters are deadly. If you are in a flood-prone area, consider moving to higher ground. Never drive through a flooded roadway. Remember, turn around don’t drown!
• If you are in a place vulnerable to high winds, such as near large trees, a manufactured home, upper floors of a high-rise building or on a boat, consider moving to safer shelter before the onset of strong winds or flooding.

State emergency proclamation

Hawai‘i Gov. Josh Green on Thursday signed an emergency proclamation declaring a state of emergency for the state.