Travelers headed to Hawaii faced a wave of disruptions Saturday as Hurricane Lala intensified near the Big Island, prompting airlines to cancel flights out of LAX and cut service throughout the island chain.
Multiple Los Angeles International Airport flights to Kona, Maui, Kauai and Honolulu were called off as the Category 1 hurricane moved closer, packing maximum sustained winds of 75 mph.
Lala was nearing the southern tip of the Big Island, where forecasters warned that the storm could bring life-threatening flash flooding and mudslides.
Rainfall totals in higher terrain could reach up to 25 inches, with some locations already being soaked by downpours falling at rates of 2 inches per hour.
The storm also has the potential to mark a rare moment in Hawaii’s weather record.
If Lala comes ashore, it would be the first hurricane to make landfall on the Big Island in 155 years.
The impact on air travel was being felt across Hawaii.
Saturday’s service disruptions included:
- Hilo: All service was suspended.
The cancellations quickly piled up.
A total of 59 neighbor island flights and 18 transpacific flights were canceled Saturday.
Airlines also canceled five neighbor island flights and three transpacific flights for Sunday, as crews prepared for possible worsening conditions.
Officials warned that additional schedule changes were possible as teams assessed the weather and focused on passenger safety.
Travelers were urged to check their flight status before heading to the airport.
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