Tropical Storm Lala leaves Hawaii flooded and without power
Al Jazeera
β’Tue, 18 Aug 2026 17:22:38 +0000
π° What Happened
Tropical Storm Lala brushed the Hawaiian islands, leaving parts of the state facing severe flooding, widespread power outages and blocked roads. Nearly 104,000 customers remained without electricity on Monday, and around 100 homes were swept away or damaged on the Big Island.
π The Backstory
Hawaii is periodically threatened by tropical cyclones and severe storms that form in the central and eastern Pacific, and the state's island geography and reliance on imported infrastructure make it vulnerable to power and road disruption. Recent years have seen renewed attention on strengthening Hawaii's resilience to extreme weather as storms become more intense.
π― Why It Matters
The storm compounds Hawaii's exposure to climate-related hazards, disrupting daily life, commerce and essential services for tens of thousands of residents. The scale of damage and prolonged outages raises questions about infrastructure resilience, emergency preparedness and the cost of recovery on the islands.
Tropical Storm Lala brushed the Hawaiian islands, leaving parts of the state facing severe flooding, widespread power outages and blocked roads. Nearly 104,000 customers remained without electricity on Monday, and around 100 homes were swept away or damaged on the Big Island.
Hawaii is periodically threatened by tropical cyclones and severe storms that form in the central and eastern Pacific, and the state's island geography and reliance on imported infrastructure make it vulnerable to power and road disruption. Recent years have seen renewed attention on strengthening Hawaii's resilience to extreme weather as storms become more intense.
The storm compounds Hawaii's exposure to climate-related hazards, disrupting daily life, commerce and essential services for tens of thousands of residents. The scale of damage and prolonged outages raises questions about infrastructure resilience, emergency preparedness and the cost of recovery on the islands.