A hurricane hitting Hawaii is now a real possibility this weekend, as Tropical Storm Lala closes in on Hawaii Island with sustained winds near 75 mph expected by Saturday morning, August 15, 2026. The National Weather Service’s Central Pacific Hurricane Center upgraded its watch to a full hurricane warning for Hawaii County late Thursday, August 13, while Maui County was placed under a tropical storm watch covering Maui, Lanai, Molokai, and Kahoolawe.
Where Lala Stands Right Now
As of the most recent advisory Thursday evening, Lala was located roughly 555 miles east-southeast of Hilo and about 765 miles east-southeast of Honolulu. The storm carried maximum sustained winds of 50 mph, moving west-northwest at about 10 mph, with forecasters expecting a faster forward motion in the coming days.
Lala is the sixth named storm of the 2026 Central Pacific hurricane season. Meteorologists say it could reach near-Category 1 hurricane strength before making its closest approach to the Big Island early Saturday. The storm’s forward speed may slow as its core begins interacting with the island’s mountainous terrain, a pattern that often intensifies localized rainfall and wind gusts on windward slopes.
Timeline of Impacts Across the Islands
Emergency officials have laid out a rough sequence for when each island should expect to feel Lala’s effects:
- Hawaii Island (Big Island): Impacts beginning late Friday night into Saturday morning, August 14–15
- Maui Nui (Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe): Conditions arriving Saturday morning
- Oahu: Impacts expected Saturday afternoon and evening
- Kauai: Conditions likely by Saturday night
Rain, wind, and rough surf could linger across all islands well into Sunday, August 16, even after Lala’s center moves south of the main chain.
What Kind of Damage Could Lala Cause?
Forecasters are warning of several hazards tied to this system. Damaging winds over 74 mph are possible in some areas, particularly at higher elevations, where terrain can amplify near-surface wind speeds by up to 30 percent. Heavy rainfall totals of five to 10 inches are expected island-wide, with isolated pockets on the Big Island potentially seeing up to 20 inches.
That kind of rainfall raises the risk of life-threatening flash flooding and landslides, especially in areas already saturated from earlier summer storms. Coastal areas, particularly south-facing shores, could see storm surge of one to three feet layered on top of already dangerous surf. Swells generated by Lala began reaching east-facing shores on Friday and are expected to build through the weekend, producing hazardous rip currents statewide.
Governor Declares State of Emergency
Governor Josh Green signed an emergency proclamation Thursday, activating the Major Disaster Fund and authorizing the Hawaii National Guard to respond if needed. In his statement, Green said Lala poses a serious threat to the state, particularly Hawaii Island, and stressed that state and county emergency teams are coordinating closely with federal partners.
Residents have been urged to secure their homes, stock emergency supplies, and review evacuation plans well ahead of the storm’s arrival. Hawaii County Civil Defense encouraged residents to sign up for real-time alerts and to prepare for potential power outages, communication disruptions, and road closures tied to the hurricane hitting Hawaii this weekend.
School Closures and Public Facility Changes
The Hawaii State Department of Education confirmed that Hawaii Island public schools will hold normal, in-person classes on Friday, August 14. However, all public school campuses and offices on the Big Island will close starting at 5:30 p.m. Friday and remain closed through Sunday, August 16. Normal operations are expected to resume Monday, August 17.
Individual principals have been given discretion to cancel select after-school activities Friday afternoon based on changing conditions. Every school-related event scheduled during the closure window has already been canceled or postponed. Decisions about possible closures on Maui, Oahu, and Kauai will depend on how the forecast develops over the next day or two.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park also announced a series of rolling closures. Starting at noon Friday, the park closed its Welcome Center, the Hawaii Pacific Parks Association store, the Kahuku Unit, all backcountry trails, the Nahuku lava tube, tent camping at Namakanipaio Campground, and the Chain of Craters and Crater Rim Drive East roads. Lodging guests at Kilauea Military Camp, Volcano House, and the A-frame cabins have been told to shelter in place rather than head outdoors.
Shelters Opening on Hawaii Island
Hawaii County has announced that emergency shelters will open at 6 p.m. Friday, August 14, at several locations, including the Ikuo Hisaoka Gymnasium in Kapaʻau, the Waikoloa Elementary School cafeteria, and the Honokaʻa Gym. Additional shelters may open as conditions develop, and county officials say updated lists will be posted as the storm approaches.
Event Cancellations Stack Up
As preparations intensified across the state, a growing list of public events was scrapped or rescheduled. The Hawaii Police Activities League’s free Youth Car Show, originally planned for this weekend, has been pushed to Saturday, October 3, at the Hilo Drag Strip. The Hawaii Island Agrifood Summit in HonokaÊ»a and Waimea was canceled, along with a planned tsunami-style evacuation drill in Waikoloa.
A University of Hawaii women’s volleyball exhibition match and youth clinic were also called off. On Oahu, the annual Makalana Celebration honoring musician Gabby “Pops” Pahinui at Waikiki Beach Walk has been postponed to Saturday, August 22. Saturday services at driver’s licensing centers and satellite city halls statewide have been suspended as well.
How the Forecast Could Still Change
Central Pacific Hurricane Center forecasters caution that Lala’s exact track and intensity could shift in the next 24 to 48 hours. The storm is currently forecast to pass near or just south of Hawaii Island on Saturday before tracking south of the remaining islands later in the weekend, but even small deviations in track could change which communities see the worst winds and rainfall.
Officials are urging residents across the state, not just on the Big Island, to monitor updates from the National Weather Service and county Civil Defense agencies as Lala’s path becomes clearer. Interests in the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument have also been told to track the storm’s progress.
Why This Storm Matters
A hurricane hitting Hawaii is a relatively rare event, and Lala’s approach has already triggered the state’s most significant emergency response of the 2026 season. With a hurricane warning active for Hawaii County and a tropical storm watch in place for Maui County, residents are being told this is not a storm to underestimate. The combination of heavy rain, damaging winds, dangerous surf, and possible flash flooding means that even areas outside the direct path of the storm’s center could see serious impacts through the weekend.
Emergency management officials continue to stress that preparations should be treated as urgent, particularly on Hawaii Island, where hurricane conditions could begin within hours of this report.
Stay alert, stay prepared, and share this update with anyone you know riding out the storm in Hawaii this weekend.