Written by Sunday, 16th, August 2026
HAWAII COUNTY, H.I. – One person was killed in a storm-related traffic crash Saturday as Hurricane Lala brought torrential rainfall, damaging winds, power outages and hazardous conditions to Hawaii, Gov. Josh Green said.
Green confirmed the fatality in a video update Saturday afternoon, Aug. 15, as Lala made its closest approach to the South Point area of Hawaii’s Big Island.
Authorities have not released the exact location or time of the crash. The identity of the person killed also had not been released by the Hawaii Police Department.
The death came as Lala battered portions of the state with significant rainfall. The Big Island and Maui received an estimated 10 to 15 inches of rain during the day, according to Green. Although the storm was weakening, an additional 8 to 10 inches of rain was expected in parts of the state.
Officials urged residents to remain off the roads as flooding, debris and other storm-related hazards continued to make travel dangerous.
“Please be very safe,” Green said. “You definitely want to be home. Do not be out on the roads. There’s been a lot of roads impacted.“
Crews had responded to approximately 30 locations to assess storm damage and remove debris. Green said at least 19 homes had lost their roofs as a result of the storm.
More than 80,000 electric customers across the Hawaiian Islands were without power Saturday, and some outages were expected to continue overnight. Severe weather prevented Hawaiian Electric crews from safely reaching and assessing damage in some locations, with additional work expected once conditions improved.
Three hospitals were among the facilities affected by power outages, according to Green. The hospitals were operating on backup generators.
Lala was expected to continue affecting the Big Island and Maui well into Saturday night before conditions began deteriorating on Oahu early Sunday. Impacts on Oahu were expected to increase after approximately 2 a.m.
Residents were urged to remain indoors, avoid unnecessary travel and continue monitoring instructions from state and local emergency management officials as the storm moved through the islands.
The extent of the damage across Hawaii was still being assessed early Sunday.