Monster Lala Targets Big Island

Officials now warn Hurricane Lala could deliver damaging winds and flooding to Hawaii’s Big Island by Saturday.

Story Snapshot

Hawaii’s Big Island is under a hurricane warning as Lala strengthens.
Forecasters expect hurricane-force winds on Saturday on the Big Island.
Heavy rain, dangerous surf, and flooding are likely across the islands.
Agencies urge residents to finish storm prep before winds increase.

Official Forecast: Hurricane Conditions Likely on the Big Island

The National Hurricane Center said damaging hurricane-force winds are expected on the Big Island on Saturday, with the strongest gusts over higher terrain. The center urged residents to finish preparations before tropical-storm-force winds arrive. Hawaii’s state emergency managers reported Lala’s core is on track to pass near South Point on Saturday, then track south of the smaller islands on Sunday, with steady strengthening expected as it approaches the Big Island.

The National Weather Service office in Honolulu stated that Lala will bring heavy rain, strong winds, dangerous surf, and localized flooding this weekend. Active warnings posted for Hawaii reflect that risk, including a hurricane warning for Hawaii County and tropical storm alerts elsewhere as conditions warrant. County civil defense messages and local broadcasters have amplified the call to shelter plans and to stay off coastal roads as surf builds.

Track and Timing: Where and When The Worst Weather Hits

Forecast guidance points to a west-northwest path, taking the center near or over the Big Island during the day on Saturday as it intensifies to a hurricane. State officials flagged South Point as the closest approach for the storm’s core on Saturday before the system passes south of the other islands on Sunday. That track would place the strongest winds on the storm’s northern side near the Big Island, with outer bands spreading rain well beyond the center.

Forecasters warned that wind hazards will start before the center arrives. Tropical-storm-force winds can reach far from the eye, making late trips to stores or along exposed roads dangerous once those winds start. The National Hurricane Center emphasized that preparations should be rushed to completion Friday evening to avoid hazardous travel on Saturday morning. Rainfall rates in the bands can overwhelm drains, and surf will make certain coastal areas unsafe even without a direct landfall.

Why Agencies Push Early Action—and What Residents Can Do Now

Emergency managers act on risk, not certainty. The science shows forecast tracks have improved a lot over the years, but intensity near landfall is still hard to predict, which is why warnings lean cautious to save lives. That means residents should not anchor plans to slight wobbles in the track. Finishing basic steps—charging phones, securing outdoor items, checking flashlights, topping off fuel, and reviewing evacuation routes—reduces last-minute stress when winds rise.

Lala, formerly a tropical storm, strengthened into a hurricane as it approached the Big Island of Hawaii, US weather officials said https://t.co/rsszDGYh9e pic.twitter.com/vuYH0qEyDz

— Reuters (@Reuters) August 15, 2026

Families should plan for power outages and blocked roads. People in flood-prone zones should move cars to higher ground and avoid driving through water. Coastal residents should avoid piers and rocky shorelines where surf can sweep people away. Visitors should follow hotel guidance and local alerts. Officials will update warnings through the National Weather Service Honolulu page and county alerts; residents should rely on these sources and not rumors as the storm evolves.