Hurricane Lala already causing havoc on Big Island; 18,000 without power, flooding, 130 people in shelters
The outages are mainly impacting customers in Puna, North and South Kohala and South Hilo.
6 hours ago
Updated at 12:10 p.m. on Aug. 15
Hurricane Lala is still 65 miles away from the Big Island, but the storm’s outer bands already are causing havoc with heavy rain, high winds and some flooding hitting North and South Kohala, Hāmākua, Hilo, Puna and Ka‘ū.
Hawaiian Electric reported 60 mph wind have caused downed power lines in those areas. Crews have been making steady progress, working to restore electricity to 20,240 customers. But another 18,000 customers remain without power, the company said.
On the Hāmākua coast, crews are assessing a 42-mile span of transmission lines after fallen trees knocked down multiple poles and structures, the company said.
But restoration work may need to pause as weather conditions intensify and make it unsafe for crew members and customers in the area.
About 130 people, mostly in Kea‘au, have utilized county-run shelters to escape from the wind and rain.
On Saturday, Hawai‘i County Mayor Kimo Alameda said while the hurricane is not expected to make landfall, portions of the island are still on the storm’s periphery.
“I’d say the next six to 10 hours will tell the tale,” Alameda said.
He said with the winds just starting to pick up, the bad weather is just beginning for the island.
While Alameda was confident on Friday that the county could address any flooding issues, he was concerned about how the wind would affect residents.
Those concerns were well-founded as the winds have been hitting the electrical grid hard, It’s anticipated the power will be out for hours until Hawaiian Electric crews can safely repair transmission lines.
Alameda said North Kohala is seeing gusts of up to 70 mph. A portion of Highway 250 is closed because of downed trees.
Hope Service Hawai‘i’s homeless outreach team was out in Hilo offering rides to shelters, passing out hygiene supplies, food, tarps, rope, bungee cords, blankets and towels to the houseless community.
The team also tooke a man who was in a wheelchair to a county emergency shelter.
“Some people are choosing to remain on the streets because they feel safer in their current space, have belongings they cannot leave behind or prefer to maintain their independence,” said Director of Outreach Carrie Ho’opi’i. “Shelter rules and restrictions may also make them unwilling or unable to stay there, leading them to choose to ride out the storm where they are.”
In Waimea, there have been reports of flooding on Mana Road.
As of Saturday morning, Parker Ranch security patrols observed flooding in areas that are historically prone to flooding, along with several downed trees on Parker Ranch property in Waimea. Security and operations teams continue to monitor conditions across the Ranch and assess any impacts as the weather develops.
“The safety of our employees, animals, and the greater Waimea community remains our highest priority,” said Micah Kāne, President and CEO of Parker Ranch, Inc. “Our teams are keeping a close eye on conditions throughout the Ranch, and we are prepared to respond as needed.”
Parker Ranch encourages employees and community members to remain cautious, avoid flooded areas and downed trees, and follow guidance from County and emergency management officials.
Hawaiian Electric is working to keep outage maps and social media updated with information as it becomes available. Because of the dynamic nature of the storm system, outage numbers represent a snapshot in time and are subject to change as additional customers are restored and more outages occur, sometimes in the same area.
“Our priorities for restoration emphasize safety and essential community services,” the power company stated in a news release Saturday morning. “Restoration will take place in a manner designed to affect the greatest number of customers first. Damage assessments must be completed before repairs and restoration can begin.”
Even when winds have subsided, conditions can be dangerous. Customers in storm-impacted areas are urged to take the following safety precautions:
- Stay far away from downed power lines, flooding and debris; lines could be energized and dangerous.
- If you must travel, please help protect line workers and crews when you see them on the roadside assessing damage or making emergency repairs. Move over from the lane nearest the workers or slow down until you can safely pass the work site.
- Use extreme caution when driving. Power interruptions may cause traffic signals to stop working without warning. If you come to an intersection with a non-working traffic signal, treat it as a four-way stop.
Hawaiian Electric communicates restoration information to customers frequently through the news media and the following mobile-friendly resources:
- Hawaiian Electric website: hawaiianelectric.com
- Twitter/X: @HwnElectric; @mauielectric; @hielectriclight
- Facebook: facebook.com/HawaiianElectric
- Mobile app: free download available on Apple App and Google Play stores
