Hawaii Island storm recovery: first death confirmed, thousands still cut off

Aug 18, 2026

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.

← Latest · Archive