Hurricane Lala: What Just Happened in Hawaii — and What's Next

Mid-August brought Hawaii its first real test of an already active 2026 hurricane season, when Hurricane Lala tracked toward the islands and put every coastline, from the Big Island to Kauai, on alert.

The Timeline

Lala weakened to a tropical storm by Sunday, August 16, as it passed near the islands without a direct landfall, centered about 105 miles west-northwest of Kailua-Kona with sustained winds near 70 mph. Even without landfall, the storm's reach was enormous. The Big Island took the brunt of it first, with tropical-storm conditions then spreading westward across Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Oahu, Kauai, and Niihau. Forecasters expected Lala to regain hurricane strength midweek as it moved on past the island chain.

The Impact

The numbers give a sense of just how significant this system was:

• Nearly 3 feet of rain on windward slopes, with some high-elevation areas seeing forecasts up to 35 inches

• Hurricane-force wind gusts on the Big Island, with mountaintop winds running as much as 30% stronger than what was measured at the surface

• More than 130,000 households lost power across Hawaii's three largest islands

• At least three hospitals had to switch to generator power

• Flash flooding in the Naʻalehu and Waiʻohinu areas swept several occupied homes off their foundations, triggering search-and-rescue operations

• Nineteen roofs were lost and more than 30 road sites damaged

• Tragically, one traffic fatality was reported in connection with the storm

Along the coast, powerful surf pounded beaches and harbors well ahead of and behind the storm's closest approach — a reminder that a storm doesn't need to make landfall to make the ocean genuinely dangerous.

Why This Storm Fits the Bigger Picture

Lala isn't an isolated event — it's an early, powerful example of exactly what this year's El Niño-charged outlook has been pointing toward: a Central Pacific season running well above normal, with more storms tracking closer to the islands than we're used to seeing. (We covered the full seasonal outlook in our previous post if you want the bigger picture.)

Where Things Stand Now

Our thoughts are with everyone on the Big Island dealing with flood and wind damage, and with the crews working around the clock on power restoration and road repairs. As conditions allow, we're reassessing lesson schedules, rental availability, and tour routes island by island rather than reopening everything at once — safety and clean water quality come first, always.

Keep an eye on our booking page and social channels for the most current status, and check back for our next post on how to navigate an active season safely, whether you're a lifelong waterman or paddling out for your very first lesson.