Hurricane Lala Destroys Hawaii Highway 11 in Pāhala
Drone footage captured the dramatic washouts and structural failures along the route as the storm brought destructive winds, heavy rain, and widespread power outages to the Hawaiian Islands.
The Scope of Destruction Across the Hawaiian Islands
Hurricane Lala left a trail of severe damage as it ground westward across the islands after brushing the Big Island as a Category 1 storm. According to statements from Gov. Josh Green (D-HI), one person was killed during the severe weather event. Homes were ripped completely off their foundations by fierce winds and flooding, and more than 130,000 customers lost power statewide at the height of the storm’s impact.
Before sweeping further west, the system had packed maximum sustained winds reaching 75 mph (120 km/h), prompting the U.S. National Hurricane Center to classify it as a Category 1 hurricane. While Hawaii narrowly avoided a direct historic hit, torrential rain and hurricane-force winds triggered dangerous mudslides, widespread flooding, and prolonged utility disruptions affecting over 40,000 customers on the Big Island alone.
Infrastructure Collapse and Recovery Challenges
The destruction of Highway 11 in Pāhala presents an immediate logistical crisis for emergency responders and residents attempting to traverse the southern half of the Big Island.
Local authorities urged residents to shelter in place as dangerous conditions persisted in the wake of the storm’s passage.