Hawaii is bracing for what could be the first direct hit by a hurricane since 1992, as Category One Storm Lala churns off its coast. With winds of 120 km/h (75 mph), Lala gained hurricane strength on Saturday. In a worst-case scenario, it could dump up to 25 inches (63 cm) of rain on the Big Island and produce a 3-foot storm surge. A hurricane warning is in effect for the Big Island, while Maui County, Oahu, Kauai and Niihau are under tropical storm warnings. Authorities have told residents to prepare for “life-threatening” conditions, including flooding and landslides. The storm is expected to make landfall or pass near the southern tip of the Big Island on Saturday, before continuing westward. The last time a hurricane made landfall on the Big Island of Hawaii was 155 years ago, according to the Associated Press news agency. Over the weekend, Lala will continue to move westward and may weaken into a tropical storm, with the center passing just below the other Hawaiian Islands.
