Hurricane Lala brings devastation to Ka‘ū; Hawai‘i County holding press conference with recovery efforts

Residents in the communities of the Ka‘ū District are reeling from the damage brought on by Hurricane Lala on Saturday, with homes swept off their foundations, damage to properties, businesses and Nā‘ālehu Elementary School and Pāhala Town cut off Sunday morning due to road closures.

Lala did not make a direct hit to the Big Island, but while it skirted South Point on Saturday it still brought sustained winds of 70 mph and lots of rain, which turned small streams into raging rivers, smashing up roads and cutting off Green Sands Beach Subdivision.

The hardest-hit communities were Nā‘ālehu, Wai‘ohinu and Pāhala.

The Punalu‘u Bakery was inundated by floodwaters, mud and boulders. The general manager of the beloved bakery Zach Kennedy stated on social media that the situation was not good, saying: “There has been catastrophic damage.”

“Many of us are currently cut off from communication and power,” Kennedy said. “I will share an update as soon as I’m able.”

Christine Inserra, who lives in Wai‘ohinu, which is just south of Nā‘ālehu, said she has 4-foot trenches in her yard where trees were uprooted. South Point Road is cut off and power lines are down on Highway 11 on the way to Ocean View.

Inserra tried to get into Nā‘ālehu this morning to do a welfare check on her friends but was turned around by Kahuku Park on Highway 11 by county workers. There is no cell service.

Nāʻālehu Elementary School was flooded and will remain closed to students and staff Monday through Aug. 20 due to storm-related impacts to the campus and classrooms, as well as road closures affecting safe access.

The entrance to Pāhala is cut off near the hospital with downed power lines and debris and mud in the road.

Hawai‘i County Mayor Kimo Alameda said in a Facebook post that Hawai‘i Island is all hands on deck.

“We have a joint agency operation happening islandwide with crews responding and working as fast as they can to regain access to all parts of the island,” Alameda stated. “You might not see us yet, but we are coming.”

The county will be providing an update on the situation in Ka‘ū at noon during a press conference. Tune in here.

This is a developing situation. More information will be provided as it becomes available. If you are in Ka‘ū, Big Island Now wants to hear from you. Reach out at editor@bigislandnow.com.