Hawaii braces for possible cyclone week after Hurricane Lala

Key Points:

• Hawaii is still recovering from Hurricane Lala, which caused significant damage including uprooted trees, roof losses, and widespread power outages affecting thousands of homes and businesses on the Big Island.
• A new tropical depression southeast of Hawaii is expected to strengthen into a tropical storm, potentially bringing up to 15 inches of rain and causing life-threatening flooding, mudslides, and rip currents over the weekend or early next week.
• Hurricane Lala, the first major hurricane of 2026 in the Central Pacific, has caused two fatalities and extensive damage, with the heaviest rainfall recorded at over 43 inches on the Big Island and power restoration efforts expected to take at least two weeks.
• The hurricane is currently impacting the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, a remote area northwest of the main Hawaiian Islands, prompting safety measures including the evacuation of a marine debris cleanup crew.
• State officials, including Governor Josh Green, are preparing for the new storm while continuing recovery efforts from Lala’s destruction.