Hurricane Lala Leaves Over 178,000 Without Power in Hawaii
Hurricane Lala has caused widespread power outages across Hawaii, leaving approximately 178,400 Hawaiian Electric (HECO) customers without electricity as of August 16, 2026, 9:50 PM local time. The storm brought high winds and heavy rainfall, damaging critical infrastructure, including major transmission lines on Hawaii Island, Maui, and Oahu. The hardest-hit areas include Puna, North Kona, and South Kohala on Hawaii Island, as well as Kula, Haiku, and Olinda on Maui. On Oahu, Leeward and Windward regions, along with parts of Honolulu, have been severely affected. Restoration efforts are underway, but HECO warns that customers in rural areas may face extended outages lasting days or even weeks. 
