Hawaii Island storm recovery: first death confirmed, thousands still cut off
Hurricane Lala has left Hawaii Island with its first confirmed death, wrecked roads, and tens of thousands of people without power — bad news for residents facing weeks of recovery.
- A 93-year-old woman found dead after going missing during the storm is the first storm-related death; foul play is not suspected.
- More than three feet of rain in places caused flash floods and mudslides that destroyed about a dozen homes and washed out part of Highway 11.
- Around 2,000 people in Pahala are stranded with the road in and out gone, and some are told power could take more than a week to come back.
- On Maui, falling trees wrecked several small businesses in Makawao, hitting owners still recovering from the wildfires three years ago.
- Elsewhere: oil prices rose again as U.S.–Iran talks over the Strait of Hormuz stalled, and Meta's trial over child safety claims from 29 states began.
Outlook: Lala is strengthening but moving away to the west, so the focus shifts to water and food distribution, road repairs, and a power restoration that could stretch past a week.