What visitors need to know in the aftermath of Tropical Storm/Hurricane Lala

Over the weekend of August 15 and 16, Lala proved to be a strong force. While most of the Hawaiian islands were left relatively unscathed this storm brought flooding, downed trees, power outages, road damage, and some damage to homes, parks, and businesses. Here are some stats about Lala:

As Tropical Storm Lala approached the islands, it did become a level 1 hurricane before turning back to a tropical storm.
Lala did not make landfall, but did come within 30 miles of Hawaii’s Big Island.
Rainfall levels between were staggering. Over a four-day period, experts estimate over 100 inches of rainfall onto the Big Island.
Southern areas of the Big Island, such as Naalehu, Pahala, and Punalu’u, were hardest hit. These southern towns were flooded by approximately two years’ worth of rain in just four days.

While most of Hawaii is back to business as normal, there are some areas that Lala hit hard. I encourage visitors to be respectful to the local residents always, but especially as some could be recovering from the storm. As an example of the struggle that some residents of the south side of Hawaii’s Big Island have, see the following KHON2 segment:

I want to highlight some of the biggest impacts that could affect visitors to the islands.

Section of Highway 11 on Big Island is closed

A section of Highway 11 on the south side of Hawaii’s Big Island is closed to through traffic. Please use alternate routes. The following map shows the closed area.

Map showing Route 11 closure in the Ka?? district of Hawai?i Island

Though the above map doesn’t show much detail, Punalu’u is within the closed section. This was a popular spot for the black sand beach park and for the bakery in town. Sadly, both are closed for the time being. Punalu’u Bakery was severely damaged.

While the closed area is neat to see, it’s not our preferred method for getting from the Kona side to the Hilo side of the island. Check out our popular, scenic drive guide from Kona to Hilo and beyond.

National park closures

Three national parks remain closed to some degree as they assess and repair damages. Here’s a summary of those closures:

Haleakala National Park on Maui is closed both at the summit and the Kipahulu region. Check their Facebook page for updates along with this page of their website.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on Hawaii’s Big Island is partially closed. For updates, check their Facebook page and this page of their website.
Pu’ukohola Heiau Naitional Historic Site on Hawaii’s Big Island is closed. For updates, check their Facebook page and this page of their website.

We are pleased to see that two other Big Island national parks are open. Those parks are Pu’uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park and Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park. Both are excellent parks to explore. Additionally, on Oahu, Pearl Harbor National Memorial is open as well.

Most Hawaii state parks are open

Most state parks are open, however, a few are closed. Check the State’s official parks website for updates.

Power and connectivity issues

Some areas of Hawaii’s Big Island remain without power and internet service. In affected areas, restaurants, retail stores, and gas stations may be unable to process credit or debit card payments. Visitors are encouraged to carry cash as a backup.