NewsWSVN 7 News MiamiAugust 18, 2026Miami-Dade
Tropical Storm Lala causes one death and widespread power outages in Hawaii
Tropical Storm Lala has resulted in one confirmed fatality and left over 100,000 customers without power across Hawaii. The storm caused significant flooding, road closures, and infrastructure damage, particularly on the Big Island, leading to the closure of schools and state offices.
Read the full story at WSVN 7 News MiamiWhy It Matters
Residents face ongoing power outages, travel disruptions due to debris-blocked roads, and potential health hazards from floodwaters, with recovery efforts currently underway.
Key Facts
- One 90-year-old woman died in Naalehu due to the storm.
- Approximately 104,000 customers were without power as of Monday afternoon.
- About 100 homes were swept from their foundations on the Big Island.
- Public schools and state offices were closed Monday; Big Island schools and county offices remain closed Tuesday.
- Laupahoehoe recorded 43.54 inches of rainfall.
- Wind gusts reached 140 mph on Mauna Kea.
- The 911 emergency service was temporarily disabled on the Big Island but restored by Monday afternoon.
- Two cemeteries in Naalehu were damaged by flooding, causing dispersal of ancestral remains.
- Tropical Storm Lala is moving westward and is expected to regain hurricane strength at sea by Wednesday.
Who's Mentioned
locationLaupahoehoe“Location of heaviest rainfall”personJeanné Kapela“State Representative for Kau district”locationBig Island“Primary area of storm impact”personJosh Green“Governor of Hawaii”locationMauna Kea“Location of highest wind gusts”personSean Duffy“Transportation Secretary”locationNaalehu“Community where fatality occurred”locationPunaluu“Isolated community”personBrian Schatz“U.S. Senator”locationHawaii“State affected by the storm”