Hurricane Lala kills at least one in Hawaii as rapid moving floods sweep away homes in America's Pacific paradise

Published: 13:33, 16 August 2026 | Updated: 13:59, 16 August 2026 One person is dead in a storm-related incident after Hurricane Lala swept Hawaii’s Big Island with severe winds and rain. The Category 1 hurricane is barreling past the Hawaiian Islands without making landfall, bringing treacherous conditions that are flooding roads and overflowing rivers. At least one person died in a storm-related car accident in the South Point area, Governor Josh Green confirmed Saturday evening, as a flash flood emergency was issued for the Big Island. More than 60,000 residents have lost power, while 19 buildings lost their roofs and 190 flights were delayed.  'You definitely want to be home, do not be out on the roads,' Green said.  Hurricane Lala is churning northwest past Hawaii, packing 75 mph winds and torrential rain as it moves toward Oahu and Kauai on Sunday, the National Hurricane Center said.  Torrential rain has pushed several waterways past flood stage, with the Wailuku River near Hilo reaching its sixth-highest level on record. More than 60,000 residents have lost power, while 19 buildings lost their roofs and 190 flights were delayed due to Hurricane Lala Tropical storm warnings remain in effect for the islands of Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe, Oahu, Kauai and Niihau as the storm moves west The heaviest rainfall has dumped 15 to 17 inches across windward Maui and the Big Island, per the NHC. Forecasters said higher elevations on the island, dominated by the towering Mauna Kea volcano, could get as much as 25 in of rain.  The agency added that the heavy rainfall into Sunday could produce flooding and mudslides. Earlier the governor called the hurricane an 'enormous storm,' capable of destructive flooding and even the possibility of wildfires kicked up by strong winds across the island chain.  Tropical storm warnings remain in effect for the islands of Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe, Oahu, Kauai and Niihau as the storm moves west. Powerful winds have knocked out power to nearly 70 percent of the Big Island, leaving much of the region in the storm’s grip The Category 1 hurricane is barreling past the Hawaiian Islands without making landfall One person is dead in a storm-related incident after Hurricane Lala swept Hawaii ’s Big Island with severe winds and rain The Big Island is the state’s largest, with a population of about 210,000. More than one million people are spread out across the state, particularly in Honolulu, Waikiki, Kahului and Kihei. Hawaii is in the peak of its summer travel season, with roughly 250,000 vacationers visiting beaches and other tourist attractions on any given day from June to mid-August.  AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Expert Alex DaSilva warned the storm closely resembles Hurricane Hone, which brought severe flooding and dangerous winds to the island paradise in 2024. 'Despite never making landfall in Hawaii, Hone brought more than two feet of rain to portions of the Big Island, causing significant flooding, as well as winds in excess of 70 mph,' DaSilva said in a statement. This is a breaking news story.