Hurricane Lala skirted South Point on Saturday, bringing 70 mph sustained winds and heavy rain that inundated Kaʻu, where homes were torn from foundations, roads were washed out, and Nāʻālehu Elementary School sustained flooding. By Sunday morning, access to Pāhala and parts of Nāʻālehu was cut off due to road closures.
Although Hurricane Lala did not make landfall on Hawaiʻi Island, its close pass transformed small streams into destructive flows that chewed up pavement and isolated the Green Sands Beach Subdivision. The hardest-hit areas reported were Nāʻālehu, Waiʻōhinu, and Pāhala, according to residents and county updates.
Hurricane Lala impacts businesses and infrastructure
Punaluʻu Bake Shop was inundated by floodwater, mud, and boulders. General manager Zach Kennedy described the scene as catastrophic, adding that many in the area were without communication and power. He said he would share updates when possible.
In Waiʻōhinu, resident Christine Inserra reported four-foot-deep trenches where trees were uprooted. She said South Point Road was impassable and power lines were down along Highway 11 toward Ocean View. Inserra attempted to reach Nāʻālehu for a welfare check Sunday morning but was turned back near Kahuku Park by county crews amid a loss of cell service.
Nāʻālehu Elementary School was flooded and will remain closed to students and staff through Aug. 20 because of storm damage and road closures that impede safe access.
Entry to Pāhala was also blocked near the hospital due to downed lines, debris, and mud on the roadway.
Hurricane Lala response underway
Hawaiʻi County Mayor Kimo Alameda said the island is in an all-hands response. He noted a joint agency operation is working across the island to restore access, telling residents they may not see crews yet, but they are on the way.
County officials held a noon briefing Sunday to provide an update on recovery efforts in Kaʻu. Authorities urged patience as crews clear debris, assess damaged roads, and work to restore power and communications.
This is a developing situation, and more information will be released as it becomes available.
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