By Brian K. Sullivan
August 15, 2026 (Bloomberg) – A Pacific storm named Lala has turned into a hurricane as it approaches Hawaii's Big Island, where it is expected to make landfall on Saturday, according to the US National Hurricane Center.
Lala's winds have increased to 75 miles per hour (121 kilometers per hour) from 65 mph earlier, as it nears South Point, Hawaii, which is about 85 miles away. The Category 1 hurricane is already bringing strong winds and rain to the island chain.
“Hurricane conditions are expected later today” on the Big Island of Hawaii, said Robbie Berg, a meteorologist at the center, in his forecast.
If Lala maintains its strength and hits as a hurricane, it would be the first storm of this magnitude to strike the islands since 1992.
Recent history shows that even near misses can lead to severe flooding and other disasters in Hawaii. In 2023, Hurricane Dora passed to the south but created wind patterns that fueled devastating fires across Maui, resulting in over 100 fatalities.
The center predicts that the Big Island could get up to 20 inches (51 cm) of rain, with some areas possibly receiving 25 inches. Eastern Maui may see around 1 foot of rain, while the rest of the islands could get between 4 and 6 inches.
As of 2:30 p.m. in New York, 111 flights in and out of Honolulu and Hilo have been canceled, according to FlightAware.