Hawaii Island and Maui County currently have the highest potential for heavy rainfall from the storm. Damaging winds could affect the islands even if the storm’s center remains offshore. Fire weather concerns could increase Friday as winds strengthen and a dry, stable air mass moves over the islands. Tides are already elevated due to strong trade winds, the moon’s distance from the earth, and thermal expansion of the ocean.

Big Island Mayor Kimo Alameda issued a statement encouraging residents to prepare now as impacts could begin on Friday night and spread across the island chain. "We are closely tracking the development of this storm system and actively preparing for any hazards that could affect our island," he said. He added that preparation is critical despite uncertainty about the storm's ultimate intensity. "While the magnitude of impacts is uncertain at this time, the best way to keep you and your family safe is to prepare now and stay connected," he said.

Timeline

The last hurricane to hit Hawaii was Category 4 Iniki in 1992. The last tropical storm to make landfall in Hawaii was Olivia, which came ashore on Maui and Lanai in 2018. PureSource News reported on 2026-06-03 that Tropical Storm Amanda formed in the Eastern Pacific. Earlier coverage on 2026-08-06 reported that Hawaii could be in the path of a tropical threat as El Niño boosts Eastern Pacific activity.

What's New

The National Hurricane Center is monitoring the development of Tropical Storm Lala and has stated that a Hurricane or Tropical Storm Watch will likely be required for the Hawaiian Islands by early Thursday. Mayor Kimo Alameda of the Big Island issued a statement encouraging residents to prepare now as impacts from Tropical Storm Lala could begin on the Big Island on Friday night and spread across the island chain. Hawaii Island and Maui County currently have the highest potential for heavy rainfall from Tropical Storm Lala.

"We are closely tracking the development of this storm system and actively preparing for any hazards that could affect our island," Alameda said. Earlier coverage on 2026-08-06 reported that Hawaii could be in the path of a tropical threat as El Niño boosts Eastern Pacific activity. "While the magnitude of impacts is uncertain at this time, the best way to keep you and your family safe is to prepare now and stay connected," Alameda said. Tropical Storm Lala was located approximately 700 to 935 miles east-southeast of Hawaii. Forecasters expect Tropical Storm Lala to produce rainfall totals of 5 to 10 inches across much of the island chain, with maximum totals of 20 inches possible.

How Sources Differ

Mayor Kimo Alameda of the Big Island issued a statement encouraging residents to prepare now as impacts from Tropical Storm Lala could begin on the Big Island on Friday night and spread across the island chain, while the National Weather Service forecast expects Tropical Storm Lala to produce rainfall totals of 5 to 10 inches across much of the island chain, with maximum totals of 20 inches possible. The National Weather Service forecast states that Hawaii Island and Maui County currently have the highest potential for heavy rainfall from Tropical Storm Lala, whereas the National Hurricane Center advisory notes that Tropical Storm Lala was located approximately 700 to 935 miles east-southeast of Hawaii.

The National Weather Service forecast expects Tropical Storm Lala to produce rainfall totals of 5 to 10 inches across much of the island chain, with maximum totals of 20 inches possible, while the National Hurricane Center forecast expects Tropical Storm Lala to maintain its strength as it makes landfall on the Big Island. The National Weather Service forecast expects Tropical Storm Lala to produce rainfall totals of 5 to 10 inches across much of the island chain, with maximum totals of 20 inches possible, whereas the National Hurricane Center forecast indicates Tropical Storm Lala could be near hurricane strength as it approaches the Big Island.

The National Weather Service forecast expects Tropical Storm Lala to produce rainfall totals of 5 to 10 inches across much of the island chain, with maximum totals of 20 inches possible, while the National Hurricane Center advisory reports that Tropical Storm Lala has maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (64 kph). The National Weather Service forecast expects Tropical Storm Lala to produce rainfall totals of 5 to 10 inches across much of the island chain, with maximum totals of 20 inches possible, whereas the National Hurricane Center forecast states that Tropical Storm Lala is forecast to produce waves potentially exceeding 30 feet. The National Hurricane Center advisory reports that Tropical Storm Lala has maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (64 kph), while the National Weather Service forecast warns that damaging winds from Tropical Storm Lala could affect the islands even if the storm’s center remains offshore.

Why It Matters

El Niño is expected to become one of the strongest on record and increases tropical activity in the Pacific Ocean by weakening trade winds and warming ocean temperatures near and to the east of Hawaii. Since the 1950s, only two hurricanes have made landfall in Hawaii: Dot in 1959 and Iniki in 1992, both on Kauai. Hurricane Iniki remains the costliest hurricane in Hawaiian history. Hurricane Iselle in 2014 peaked as a Category 4 hurricane but weakened into a tropical storm before making landfall on the Big Island.